18/09/2024
😔 Do you or a loved one experience Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria?
RSD refers to intense emotional sensitivity and distress triggered by the belief that one has been rejected or criticized by people they care about. It can also stem from feelings of not measuring up to expectations — whether their own or those of others.
RSD can cause a person to perceive rejection, even when it’s not intended. This heightened anticipation can lead to protective behaviours like people-pleasing, masking, or frequently seeking reassurance from others to ensure everything is okay.
Rejection sensitivity is challenging to navigate. Many describe the experience as overwhelming, intense, or deeply painful.
📙 Read Autistic advocate Chantell Marshall, aka Shylittlepixie's poignant account of RSD here: https://reframingautism.org.au/the-unbearable-heartache-of-rejection-sensitive-dysphoria/
❓ : Do you experience Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria? How does it affect you? What strategies have you found helpful for managing it?
[ID: A green background featuring the Reframing Autism logo at the top and rainbow logo knotwork at the bottom left. A quote from Chantell Marshall in white text reads, “An important aspect of RSD is that we tend to have a very critical inner voice – this is like having your worst enemy living inside your brain, continually berating you. When we then receive an external criticism, we react so deeply to it because it seems to ‘confirm’ the stream of criticism we are already receiving from this inner voice.” Below the quote is a close-up photo of a drooping sunflower.]
