Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria and Autism

In this episode, I dive into rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) and how it connects to both ADHD and autism. I explore the intense emotional responses that come with RSD, the common triggers, and the ways it can impact relationships and self-worth. I also share some therapeutic approaches that might help and explain why it's so important to understand RSD — whether you experience it yourself or want to better support someone who does. Join me as we investigate this deeply personal and often misunderstood part of neurodivergent life.

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All episodes written and produced by Kristen Hovet.

#rejectionsensitivedysphoria #autism #adhd #psychology #mentalhealth #therapy

[PhoenixGiirl]

Thank you so much for this video. I was officially diagnosed with autism last week and am trying to relearn everything about myself. I have been a mess for the last 4 hours experiencing what I think is RSD after a perceived rejection from people - very intense emotions and spiraling, almost like a fight or flight response. It gets to the point my thoughts almost turn to self harm and I want to almost drink to calm down. I've experienced this a lot in my life and today realized that it might be related to autism.

[Taurusboy]

Thanks for this informative information. I certainly have RSD. I learned that I did back in 2020. I ended up being picked up by the Mobile Crisis Team. I went through a breakup and it got better down to the point of suicide. I felt unloved, unwanted, and a mess. Having experienced an overwhelming amount of trauma, abuse, rejection, and neglect, I could not shake it off. RSD makes the intensity very high.

[brynnejewell]

Thank you for sharing. You have a very soothing voice.😊

[Mizz]

I’ve had this most of my life but didn’t understand it. I can’t keep a job not because I’m not qualified but because I’m so terrified of people criticising me as it physically makes my insides burn with pain and takes so much energy to ‘act’ normal. I eventually burn out with depression or some kind of as break down and have to leave work. I constantly feel like ppl look at me as just being lazy but they don’t see the pain. I would love to do something productive but it all feels pointless because it’s let’s been too hard. At this point in my life I’ve pretty much locked myself up in my home. It’s very depressing nd there’s many days where it takes ll my effort to get out of the bed but it’s the lesser evil for me. I’ve given up on mental health teams as they just don’t get me and I’ve had bd experiences with some ppl in this field where I’ve felt bullied and terrified. I’m now scared to even talk to doctors. I don’t trust anyone. I ask myself how long can the human soul survive like this but I’m scared of the answer. I have a small number of people I love deeply in my life and I live for them and keep praying that a miracle will happen nd one day I will wake up as a highly functional person ❤

[DavidGreen-ns]

I was 47 when I was DIAGNOSED with ASPERGERS 😮

I was pretty sure I wouldn't need FRIES with that😊

I use HUMOR to cope, and am SO HAPPY I was NOT diagnosed with
"CHICKEN FINGERS"😂❤😂

[ProjectCreativityGuy]

Listen, here's one problem You don't want to get into, and that is poverty....

Once You experience poverty like I have, You'll definitely appreciate life and its values more!!!

Listen, whatever all Your problems are, I'm sure they'll work out in the end!

Life can be a bumpy road, as You will experience sudden bumps that will turn Your whole world upside-down, but You manage somehow to get through it, as You know You've been through this a trillion times!

Just think, look at Your situation right now and realise that there is much worse things happening to people out there that You, as You should think Yourself lucky to have a roof above Your head and food on Your plate at least!

Bless all who read this! 😊

[Andrea-orchidsadutchy]

Thank you! This was very informative and interesting. Do you think there could be a relation between RSD and Paranoid Personality Disorder? Both my partner and I are autistic, and he is very insecure and suspicious. I noticed a long time ago he used to copy some of my gestures when we are sitting alone together reading or watching TV (for instance, if I touch my face or my hair he does the same and looks annoyed). I didn't think much of it at the time. But the last few years he seems to be angry at me, resentful, and I started to noticed he seems to interpret any of my gestures as meaning something negative. I touch my face and in response he touches his nose or the corner of his eye with the middle finger. I tried so many times to ask what is wrong, did I do something wrong, is he mad at me. This only makes things worse. So I try to ignore this. I even considered he might be trying to gaslight me. It turned out two of my friends noticed him doing this. At the time he was sometimes making a sign like a fist with his hand in my direction when he thought I wasn't looking. These friends noticed, and the next time I met them, they looked worried, and it turned out they thought he might have been angry and maybe violent towards me. He has never hit me, but I understand why they thought like that. I searched for information, and found out about Paranoid Personality Disorder, and it seems to fit him perfectly. But, there is no way I can approach the subject with him, and no way to suggest therapy, or couple's therapy. Every time I try to have and open and frank discussion with him, he pretends I'm imagining it all, insists that he loves me, denies everything. It is ridiculous. Even when I saw him showing me the middle finger, he denies it, even "cries" (a fake cry). It almost looks like gaslighting. It seems if I want to stay in this relationship, I have to pretend I don't notice anything. But he seems to keep interpreting all my gestures as meaning something they don't. It's at the point when I have to keep policing myself to stay as still as possible, which is hard for someone like me with autism and ADHD. Even while I'm eating, he might think the way I use my fork was supposed to mean something towards him. I suppose it is only going to get worse. How can one help someone who doesn't want help and don't trust you? I wonder how long I can take this. I wonder if sometimes I experience myself RSD, because sometimes I feel very depressed with this and I have sometimes thoughts of not wanting to live my life anymore (thought I know I'm not going to act on these thoughts). I don't believe he would ever be willing to accept any help. It is most likely a situation that cannot be helped. Have you heard of a connection between autism and Paranoid Personality disorder?