7 Surprising Signs of RSD

Many individuals with ADHD endure rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) – extreme emotional sensitivity and pain triggered by repudiation or criticism, real or perceived. Yet few of us truly understand the complex cluster of characteristics that accompany RSD, and that shape our behavior and perceptions.

The following are lesser-known or seldom discussed features that often accompany RSD. Which signs do you recognize, and which would you add?

People who experience RSD often report feelings of imposter syndrome; they harbor a belief that they're not worthy or good enough, and that they can easily fail or be excluded. (Living as a neurodivergent person fuels this distorted belief.) There's a fundamental disconnect between how a person appears to others and how they perceive themselves, usually resulting in an exaggerated negative self-view.

We can’t talk about RSD without talking about perfectionism, which is not exclusively directed towards the self. Individuals who experience RSD often unconsciously project their own insecurities onto others, holding them to similarly unreasonable standards. Constantly comparing themselves to others, they become acutely aware of flaws in others, which may even serve as a form of validation.

[Get This Free Download: Understanding Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria]

While many people who experience RSD avoid situations where they might face rejection, others may engage in behaviors that increase the likelihood of rejection. Perfectionism serves this end. Failure to meet impossibly high standards only “proves” their perceived deficiency.

Though individuals who experience RSD depend on others for validation, they often struggle to accept approval. Viewing themselves as fundamentally flawed, they frequently attribute their successes to luck and quickly reject praise. Due to imposter syndrome, they may only accept praise for an accomplishment achieved without any missteps. Even then, it’s hard to let it sink in.

People with RSD worry so much about rejection that they constantly scan for it. They anticipate rejection in new situations and meticulously look for signs of disapproval. They tend to interpret ambiguous social cues as definitive indicators of rejection. Often, individuals who experience RSD are unaware of the extent to which they attempt to mind-read. They believe they know what others think of them, when they really don’t.

Prone to negative self-evaluation and on high alert for rejection, people who experience RSD also tend to suffer discomfort, awkwardness, and shame more readily than others. It doesn’t take much to trigger these feelings. Feeling marginalized or responding to rejection can activate the shame spiral. Many people become embarrassed of their overreactions and overshare in an effort to hide their pain.

[Self-Test: Signs of Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria]

Fueled by emotional dysregulation, the negative feelings and strong reactions associated with RSD can look like heightened anxiety, panic, or depression. But they can also resemble outbursts and even aggressive behavior. In-the-moment tools like breathing exercises and taking a break from the trigger can assist in slowing down intense emotions and regaining calm.

Symptoms of RSD: Next Steps

• Read: How Does RSD Really, Actually Feel?
• Read: New Insights Into Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria
• Read: “Is Rejection Sensitivity a Trauma Response?”

The content for this article was derived from the ADDitude ADHD Experts webinar titled, “Big Kids, Big Emotions: Helping Teens with ADHD and Rejection Sensitivity Improve Emotional Regulation [Video Replay & Podcast #563] with Sharon Saline, Psy.D., which was broadcast on June 11, 2025.

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