99% of people with ADHD experience RSD, and many find it to be the worst aspect of our condition. Much worse than The Disappearing Phone. It causes unbearable darkness & shame that blights our lives.
I’m with ya on all this. Need to find a tribe, I’ve dreamed of belonging all my life. This world makes little sense to me. So I mask up and keep on, tbh mostly because it seems I have no choice about it. So I create art works as therapy, and busy myself so as to distract my mind from the fact that all people are pretending. In some way, every person is behaving in some way that’s not authentic. I’ve never liked deception, or all the nonsense that goes with it. Mybad, I’m not doing too well these days. I’m full of insight, I give love with passion, and I’m aware of my own words and actions. I work on solutions and more peace of mind. Been through complex trauma, and I’m autistic- which is traumatic in a world of NTs. 47 and undiagnosed! Battling through every day, caring for my PDA 16 yr old son. Overwhelmed, stuck in stress response from being under constant threat. Isolated and alone. Still aware of our connection to one another, and the desperate need for kindness in this world. Feels more and more like my time left to live is diminishing, and chronic physical pain adds another sufferable element to my experience! Please forgive me for complaining- I’m very grateful to be here, just very compromised. Anyways, thanks for sharing. Glad you figured some things out for yourself, and you have found caring considerate people to call your own. Good work being your own friend, and doing the work to create a life worth living while you’re here. No giving up! Peaceout💜💪🏻👑
I really feel this. 🫶Before meeting my tribe I often felt lost & lonely and the world felt unkind and hostile . I found my tribe starting a neurodivergent meet up group in London UK . Could you see if there’s one in your area ? Or start one? 💜
It’s one of the best things I ever did!!
Obviously if you’re in London please join us (links in the article) 💜
I found out about RSD 16 mos ago and the relief I felt at knowing it was a brain glitch lifted years of anxiety and worthlessness off my shoulders. I now take Clonidine (American drug name) which targets the part of the brain affected. It doesn’t cure it but it allows me to take more professional and personal risks and not worry about other’s reactions. Additudemag.com has great articles about the disorder. Thank you for your wonderful article and sharing vulnerability.
Well I am a happy to be here new subscriber! I am 34 and just got diagnosed with ADHD last March. Learning about RSD was such a big part that “clicked” after learning about it. You did such a beautiful job fleshing it out. I sent your article to a fellow ADHDer with the text: “Hi it’s us. Currently in one over the tiniest bullshit with my husband. He’s at the store getting milk for my toddler. Can’t wait for him to come back to tell him I’m all better thanks to realizing it was only a [slight] processing error.” 😎😎
For me, rejection sensitivity is the logical result of a lifetime of rejection for my Autistic traits. It's not a chemical malfunction, rather it's the result of trauma. It's real and it's based on my accurate understanding of the way I've been unfairly treated by our ableist society. No change WITHIN me could change this for me. Only a change in SOCIETY.
Oh, I love that "brain glitch" reminder! It's something that happens to most of us with neurodivergent brains - we react to a tough situation from a place of hurt and rejection, and then regret our actions later. But catching ourselves before reacting and reminding ourselves that it's just our silly brains being glitchy can be such a game-changer! I can totally relate to how helpful this technique can be when we're feeling those intense emotions. Thank you for sharing your experiences!!
I’m with ya on all this. Need to find a tribe, I’ve dreamed of belonging all my life. This world makes little sense to me. So I mask up and keep on, tbh mostly because it seems I have no choice about it. So I create art works as therapy, and busy myself so as to distract my mind from the fact that all people are pretending. In some way, every person is behaving in some way that’s not authentic. I’ve never liked deception, or all the nonsense that goes with it. Mybad, I’m not doing too well these days. I’m full of insight, I give love with passion, and I’m aware of my own words and actions. I work on solutions and more peace of mind. Been through complex trauma, and I’m autistic- which is traumatic in a world of NTs. 47 and undiagnosed! Battling through every day, caring for my PDA 16 yr old son. Overwhelmed, stuck in stress response from being under constant threat. Isolated and alone. Still aware of our connection to one another, and the desperate need for kindness in this world. Feels more and more like my time left to live is diminishing, and chronic physical pain adds another sufferable element to my experience! Please forgive me for complaining- I’m very grateful to be here, just very compromised. Anyways, thanks for sharing. Glad you figured some things out for yourself, and you have found caring considerate people to call your own. Good work being your own friend, and doing the work to create a life worth living while you’re here. No giving up! Peaceout💜💪🏻👑
I really feel this. 🫶Before meeting my tribe I often felt lost & lonely and the world felt unkind and hostile . I found my tribe starting a neurodivergent meet up group in London UK . Could you see if there’s one in your area ? Or start one? 💜
It’s one of the best things I ever did!!
Obviously if you’re in London please join us (links in the article) 💜
I found out about RSD 16 mos ago and the relief I felt at knowing it was a brain glitch lifted years of anxiety and worthlessness off my shoulders. I now take Clonidine (American drug name) which targets the part of the brain affected. It doesn’t cure it but it allows me to take more professional and personal risks and not worry about other’s reactions. Additudemag.com has great articles about the disorder. Thank you for your wonderful article and sharing vulnerability.
Just subbed to your page. Love it.
It’s amazing the amount of clarity and logic I can apply to years of extreme RSD episodes upon learning about this as a symptom when I was diagnosed.
Awareness is such a good step forward. I had my first unsubscribe today so reading this article was timely 😂
Thank you <3 RSD is the worst!!
Your writing is really excellent why on earth would anyone unsubscribe? I love your articles. They must have done it accidentally or been confused.
I've had a really enjoyable time reading your articles & loved what I read so much that I just added you to my recommended reading list
Wow thank you so much! And likewise. I really appreciate that
Well I am a happy to be here new subscriber! I am 34 and just got diagnosed with ADHD last March. Learning about RSD was such a big part that “clicked” after learning about it. You did such a beautiful job fleshing it out. I sent your article to a fellow ADHDer with the text: “Hi it’s us. Currently in one over the tiniest bullshit with my husband. He’s at the store getting milk for my toddler. Can’t wait for him to come back to tell him I’m all better thanks to realizing it was only a [slight] processing error.” 😎😎
For me, rejection sensitivity is the logical result of a lifetime of rejection for my Autistic traits. It's not a chemical malfunction, rather it's the result of trauma. It's real and it's based on my accurate understanding of the way I've been unfairly treated by our ableist society. No change WITHIN me could change this for me. Only a change in SOCIETY.
Oh, I love that "brain glitch" reminder! It's something that happens to most of us with neurodivergent brains - we react to a tough situation from a place of hurt and rejection, and then regret our actions later. But catching ourselves before reacting and reminding ourselves that it's just our silly brains being glitchy can be such a game-changer! I can totally relate to how helpful this technique can be when we're feeling those intense emotions. Thank you for sharing your experiences!!