Understanding Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) in ADHD and Autism | Autism Services Group
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, or RSD is a term that resonates deeply within the ADHD and autistic community.
It describes an intense emotional response to perceived rejection, criticism, or failure. But here’s the key: it’s not a personality flaw. It’s a neurological experience that can feel all-consuming.
“People with ADHD or autism often process feedback differently,” says Sarah Phelan, CEO of Autism Services Group. “They don’t overreact; they feel deeply. Their emotional radar is simply tuned higher.”
What RSD Really Means
RSD isn’t a formal diagnosis; it’s a lived experience. It’s that sinking feeling after a neutral email, the anxiety after hitting “send,” or the self-criticism that follows a small mistake.
For many neurodivergent people, these moments can trigger a flood of self-doubt or shame. What others see as “sensitivity” is actually a fast, intense emotional loop, driven by a brain wired to respond strongly to threat or disconnection.
According to CHADD, RSD affects a significant number of adults with ADHD, often appearing alongside emotional regulation challenges. Autistic individuals may experience similar feelings when social communication differences lead to misunderstanding or exclusion.
Why It’s So Often Misunderstood
Because RSD isn’t yet widely recognised in clinical language, many people mistake it for anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem. While those can coexist, RSD has distinct features:
Emotional responses that feel instant and overwhelming
Deep rumination after perceived rejection
Avoidance of risk or feedback situations
Perfectionism as self-protection
“It’s not weakness,” Sarah adds. “It’s the nervous system doing its job, just more intensely than most people’s.”
How RSD Affects Daily Life
At work, someone might replay a short email from a manager for hours, wondering if they’ve upset them.
In relationships, minor disagreements might feel catastrophic.
Even praise can trigger anxiety because it creates pressure to maintain approval.
This emotional intensity can lead to burnout and withdrawal if misunderstood or invalidated.
NHS: Adult ADHD Symptoms
Autism Services Group: ADHD and Autism Assessments
Strategies That Can Help
Name it without shame. Simply recognising RSD can reduce its power. It helps you realise: this isn’t overreacting - it’s over-feeling.
Pause before responding. Create a moment between emotion and action- deep breaths, stepping away, or writing your feelings before reacting.
Reframe feedback. Ask for clarification instead of assuming rejection.
Build self-compassion. Therapies that focus on emotion regulation (like CBT or DBT) can help, but so can mindfulness and journalling.
Seek affirming spaces. Talking to others who experience RSD reminds you that sensitivity is not failure, it’s humanity.
“The goal isn’t to ‘toughen up,’” Sarah explains. “It’s to create environments where emotional honesty is safe, not punished.”
Conclusion
RSD can make the world feel sharper, too loud, too personal, too heavy. But it’s not something to fix; it’s something to understand.
When neurodivergent people are given empathy, clear communication, and room for authenticity, rejection loses its sting.
“When people stop being afraid of rejection,” Sarah says, “they start living with courage. And that’s when they truly thrive.”
NICE: ADHD and Autism Guidance
Autism Services Group: Contact for Support
