August 11
Do you ever feel like your emotions are too much to handle?
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) is a powerful yet often overlooked aspect of ADHD, particularly in women. If you've ever wondered whether your emotional turbulence is more than just "in your head," you're not alone. Many people with ADHD experience RSD, but it's frequently misunderstood or missed altogether - especially among women.
In this episode, we're going to have an honest chat about RSD and how it relates to ADHD. We'll explore why those of us with ADHD often feel things so intensely, and why criticism or perceived rejection can hit us so hard. It's not just "being too sensitive" - it's a real part of how our brains work.
We'll also talk about how RSD can make us perfectionists, always striving to do better but never feeling quite good enough. If you've ever felt like an imposter in your own life, we'll discuss why that might be happening and how it connects to your ADHD.
But we won't just talk about the challenges. We'll also share some ways to cope with these intense emotions. From therapy techniques like DBT and CBT to mindfulness practices and medication options, we'll explore tools that might help you navigate your emotional landscape.
This episode is designed to bring awareness, understanding, and support to those navigating the emotional landscape of ADHD.
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“It's not that we experience more emotion than your typical person, it's that we feel more emotion.”
- Tracy Otsuka
"Perfectionism can be a relentless pursuit that masks our true brilliance; it's okay to be perfectly imperfect."
- Tracy Otsuka
"Acknowledging the hidden struggles of emotional dysregulation is the first step toward healing and self-acceptance."
- Tracy Otsuka
"Knowing that Rejection-Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) is a legitimate condition can be a huge relief. You're not defective; you just have a different brain."
- Tracy Otsuka
"Knowing that Rejection-Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) is a legitimate condition can be a huge relief. You're not defective; you just have a different brain."
- Tracy Otsuka
- Tracy Otsuka introduces the concept of ADHD and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), focusing on emotional regulation challenges in daily life.
- She highlights how emotional dysregulation is not currently included in the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for ADHD but argues that it should be to better understand the mood challenges associated with ADHD.
- Tracy discusses the traits of ADHD, including hypersensitivity, emotional struggles, and rejection sensitivity, which significantly impact individuals with ADHD.
[11:15 - 17:44] The Impact of RSD on Women with ADHD
- Tracy explains how women with ADHD and RSD often struggle with people-pleasing behaviors and boundary enforcement, leading to challenges in relationships and self-esteem.
- She shares her personal struggles with perfectionism and rejection, describing how criticism can feel crippling and overwhelming.
- Tracy delves into how RSD can manifest in various ways, such as emotional outbursts, perfectionism, and social anxiety, making it a significant challenge for those affected.
[17:44 - 24:58] Managing and Understanding RSD
- Tracy discusses how RSD can lead to people-pleasing tendencies, abandoning goals, and losing potential due to the fear of failure and rejection.
- She explores the role of trauma, including developmental trauma, in exacerbating RSD, and emphasizes that understanding and accepting one's brain function can help manage these feelings.
- Tracy highlights therapies like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as effective ways to help women with RSD manage their emotions and reduce negative feelings.
