Jan 20
In this podcast, Tracy talks about ADHD and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria or RSD. Because Tracy doesn’t struggle with RSD she wasn’t that interested in learning about it but once she realized it was the number one requested topic among the women in her , she started doing her research. Discover why emotion is not mentioned in the DSM, despite the fact that all experts believe that it is an integral part of ADHD. What do so many of us with ADHD complain about? Short temper Impulsivity Low frustration tolerance Overwhelmed by emotions Overwhelmed by the pain or energy of others Others with ADHD may be unaware of others feelings and may seem to be insensitive Excitability Tracy clarifies that if emotion isn’t mentioned, that means that RSD is also not recognized in the DSM. Learn about the 3 types of mood challenges in ADHD. Discover which one of them is associated exclusively with ADHD.
Tracy shares why it’s so difficult for so many women with ADHD to grow up with a positive self-concept and the one thing that is instrumental in success for ADHD women. Learn the symptoms of Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria and how it got its name. Discover how it looks different depending on whether or not those who experience it internalize or externalize the emotional response. Tracy shares how members in her group describe what RSD feels like and how prevalent it seemed to be among the ADHD women in her group. Discover how RSD can often be misdiagnosed as social phobia, bi-polar disorder and/or depression but how it is different. Tracy talks about how Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria can affect people’s lives and relationships. She also shares a potentially positive side to RSD.
Learn what might help to lessen symptoms of RSD both in the way of medication and psychotherapy. Once Tracy read about the drive to succeed and achieve, it was easy to wonder if perhaps she had RSD.
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"The thing is, they just learn differently. Yet, in order to get a school to accommodate how that student best learns, they have to first label themselves as disabled."
- Tracy Otsuka
""Bottom line, they don't live up to their potential. These are really bright people who do nothing with their lives."
- Tracy Otsuka
"But once I took the self test, I realized, no, again, it really is all about the level of impairment."
- Tracy Otsuka
- Tracy discusses emotional dysregulation in ADHD, citing feeling overwhelmed by emotions and struggling to move forward.
- Tracy discusses the challenges of ADHD, including the tendency to focus on negative feedback and low self-esteem.
- Tracy discusses rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD), a common mood challenge in ADHD that involves extreme emotional sensitivity to rejection, which can be hidden and ignored in diagnosis and treatment.
[15:11 - 21:43] ADHD and RSD Symptoms in Women
- Tracy shares her struggles with ADHD and RST (Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria), feeling like everyone hates her and constantly on guard for criticism.
- Tracy explains how RSD in ADHD can manifest as internalized emotional response (depression) or externalized anger (rage).
- Tracy discusses how ADHD women can become people pleasers and abandon their goals due to a fear of failure, leading to a lack of potential fulfillment and strained relationships.
[21:43 - 36:49] Managing Emotional Dysregulation in ADHD
- Tracy shares strategies for managing negative emotions, including therapy, mindfulness, and stopping perfectionism.
- Tracy discusses RSD, ADHD, and the impact of negative messages on self-esteem, with a focus on medication options like guanfacine and clonidine.
- Tracy discusses off-label treatment for ADHD, tranylcypromine, and its potential benefits and limitations.
