Ah, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria—also known as “ADHD's emotional sucker punch.” You know that moment when someone says, “Hey, can we talk later?” and your brain immediately spirals into they hate me, I’m fired, I’ll live in a bin behind Tesco? Yeah, that’s RSD.
RSD is when the tiniest bit of criticism (or even imagined criticism) feels like emotional TNT. Someone raises an eyebrow, and suddenly your brain’s screaming, “I’ve disappointed everyone I’ve ever loved. Time to fake my own death and move to Peru.”
Why does this happen? Because the ADHD brain doesn’t just feel rejection—it throws it a rave, gives it a megaphone, and lets it DJ your entire nervous system. Even neutral feedback can feel like being slapped with a wet sock full of shame.
And the best part? It’s unpredictable! One day, you brush off someone ignoring your text. The next, a vague “k” ruins your entire week.
But here’s the thing: RSD isn’t weakness. It’s just your brain’s alarm system stuck on “melodrama.” You care deeply. Maybe too deeply. But that’s also what makes you passionate, empathetic, and weirdly amazing at overanalyzing every emoji.
So if you find yourself spiraling because someone didn’t laugh at your joke—breathe. You’re not alone. It’s not the end of the world.
It just feels like it. Dramatically. For 20 to 72 hours.