RSD Coming Into Focus: Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria in ADHD Brains

EXPERT: James Kustow, BMedSci, BMBS, MRCPsych

For many people with ADHD, rejection doesn’t just sting; it overwhelms. A passing comment, a shift in tone, or a feeling of being left out can trigger an intense emotional reaction that is rapid, physical, and almost impossible to control. This is often referred to as rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD), which is not a clinical diagnosis but a common phenomenon experienced by people with ADHD.

This pattern of severe emotional reactions, which are typically disproportionate to the triggering event, can quietly shape how we relate to others, and ourselves, over time. It can drive self-doubt, overthinking, and maladaptive behaviors like self-abandonment, people-pleasing, avoidance, or perfectionism — all defense mechanisms to protect against further hurt.

In this practical and clinically grounded webinar, leading UK psychiatrist, educator, and author Dr. James Kustow explores what is currently understood about RSD, and rejection sensitivity more broadly, why it remains under-recognized in research, and how it shows up in everyday life — from workplace feedback to relationship conflict to social belonging.

Using real-world examples, Dr. Kustow will focus on what helps in the moment of emotional overwhelm, as well as how to build resilience so that triggers feel less intense and recovery improves with time.

In this webinar, you will learn:

• Why RSD is part of the emotional dysregulation of ADHD
• What is happening in the brains and bodies of people with ADHD to make rejection sensitivity feels so intense
• How rejection sensitivity can shape behavior patterns such as self-abandonment, avoidance, and perfectionism
• What to do in the moment when you feel triggered and overwhelmed
• Practical ways to build emotional resilience and raise your threshold for triggers over time
• The role of therapy, lifestyle, and medication in managing rejection sensitivity
• What partners, family members, and colleagues can do to respond helpfully (and what to avoid)

Click Event Website Link below to register.