I’ve been seeing quite a bit lately of people talking about RSD, and I had a conversation with a friend who didn’t actually know what it meant. That stopped me in my tracks a bit. I thought, why not break it down, because I know she’s not the only person who doesn’t know what RSD stands for or what it actually means for those of us who struggle with it. If one person doesn’t know, chances are a lot of people don’t. And this is one of those things that, when you do know, suddenly so much makes sense. SO LET’S START AT THE BEGINNING. WHAT RSD STANDS FOR RSD stands for Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria. LET’S BREAK IT DOWN (WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS) So in a nutshell, RSD is an intense emotional pain from perceived or actual rejection, criticism, or failure. It’s strongly linked to people with ADHD, but it’s not a formal diagnosis in itself. It shows up as shame, anger, withdrawal, and it’s often described as overwhelming or even debilitating. Some people compare it to imposter syndrome, but it’s not the same thing. This isn’t just mindset. It’s an emotional response and a massive dysregulation of the nervous system. Logic doesn’t stand a chance when RSD is in the room. AND THIS IS WHERE IT GETS VERY REAL FOR ME. ME AND LILS HAVE IT Both me and Lily have RSD, and it shows up for us in different but very connected ways. For me, it tends to appear when I’m already overwhelmed or dysregulated on some level. I can misinterpret words as criticism or rejection. I can read into things that might not actually be there. When that happens, it shows up as anxiety, anger, frustration, and a really deep dip in self-worth. I start second-guessing everything I’m thinking, saying, or doing. It suddenly feels like I’m not good enough or I don’t know enough, even though logically I do know better. But when RSD shows up, it’s like a bad smell. It follows you around and it’s really hard to shake. WITH LILY, IT LOOKS DIFFERENT BUT FEELS JUST AS BIG. For Lily, it often shows up when I’m trying to support her with social situations. She can experience that support as criticism. She feels like she’s being told off, that she’s in trouble, that she’s a bad person, or that she’s done something wrong, even when that’s absolutely not the case.

✨ Calm Founder Collective is a community for ambitious women in business juggling work, family, mental load and neurodivergent lives. Calm, practical, supportive, and very real conversation. Come join us for free https://www.skool.com/calmfoundercollective/about

Alot of parents think about Homeschooling but don't know where to start. There are sooooo many curriculum and methods and books and classes and....well you get the picture! Check out this FREE Homeschool Style Quiz...you might just be inspired to take your next step towards the Homeschool Life!