One of the things I’ve learned is that people with ADHD have a hard time with emotions. We feel like we’re not being heard, or that people continually think we’re wrong or stupid. For me, this manifests itself at times with me getting louder and louder until I’m shouting, and the people I’m talking to tell me to calm down, stop yelling. BUT I’M NOT YELLING! That’s when I realize, yes, I am yelling. I didn’t mean to. I just felt like I was not being heard or was being dismissed out of hand.

This is called Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD). It comes as a perception that I’m being rejected or criticized by others. This may not be the case, and often it isn’t. But perceptions is reality for someone with ADHD. They feel that they’re being attacked and flight or fight instincts take over their emotions.

So what does someone with ADHD do with this? Often times they either become people pleasers, having difficulty saying no to anyone, or they just stop trying and shut down. I’ve done both, which is why I have too much going on at work at the moment. I’ve talked to my boss about it, and she said she’s not going to let me “volunteer” for anything, at least for the next few months.

I’m just starting to see a therapist. This is one of the things that I need to work on. I get stressed, I get angry, I get depressed. Neither of these is good for me, so I’ve got to find a way to cope.

So what’s your experience been with RSD? How do you manage it?