Danielle Elliott

He initiated a conversation, and I exploded. I had this visceral reaction. I said things that I knew would cut deep. I couldn't look at him. I started packing, taking frames off the walls. I felt out of control, and it felt really out of character. I don't yell at people. Ever. I thought I'd learned to control my emotions. But that night, I acted like a child.

After getting divorced, Sari started taking piano lessons, and then she married her piano teacher. They lived in Marin County, near San Francisco. In 1982, they started a rock and roll music school, you know, as one does. And at some point, they had more than 200 kid bands. Sari developed programs about self-esteem and self-expression. And she realized she loved this type of work.

After getting divorced, Sari started taking piano lessons, and then she married her piano teacher. They lived in Marin County, near San Francisco. In 1982, they started a rock and roll music school, you know, as one does. And at some point, they had more than 200 kid bands. Sari developed programs about self-esteem and self-expression. And she realized she loved this type of work.

So, three months later, I was still beating myself up over it. One night, I googled extreme reactions to rejection, and this article popped up about something called rejection-sensitive dysphoria, RSD. I'd never heard of it. One magazine article described it like this. It is always triggered by the perceived or real loss of approval, love, or respect.

So, three months later, I was still beating myself up over it. One night, I googled extreme reactions to rejection, and this article popped up about something called rejection-sensitive dysphoria, RSD. I'd never heard of it. One magazine article described it like this. It is always triggered by the perceived or real loss of approval, love, or respect.

She went back to school to get a master's in counseling. I jumped from job to job in my 20s. At some point, I started saying I had a curiosity-driven career. I think I saw that name on LinkedIn or something. Now I say I have ADHD. In the 1980s, Sari didn't have a name for it. She just kept following her interests.

She went back to school to get a master's in counseling. I jumped from job to job in my 20s. At some point, I started saying I had a curiosity-driven career. I think I saw that name on LinkedIn or something. Now I say I have ADHD. In the 1980s, Sari didn't have a name for it. She just kept following her interests.

It looks like an impressive, instantaneous rage at the person or situation responsible for causing the pain. Some people use the pain of RSD to find adaptations and overachieve. They constantly work to be the best at what they do and strive for idealized perfection. The last section of the article started with this sentence. Rejection sensitivity is part of ADHD.

It looks like an impressive, instantaneous rage at the person or situation responsible for causing the pain. Some people use the pain of RSD to find adaptations and overachieve. They constantly work to be the best at what they do and strive for idealized perfection. The last section of the article started with this sentence. Rejection sensitivity is part of ADHD.

She became a therapist with a counseling program for adults with learning disabilities. She loved it, but she struggled in the same way she had since college. I couldn't keep things organized my whole life. I couldn't keep things organized. I had no idea why. She'd treat patients, and after work, she'd look through the books in the office. She started looking for ways to explain herself.

She became a therapist with a counseling program for adults with learning disabilities. She loved it, but she struggled in the same way she had since college. I couldn't keep things organized my whole life. I couldn't keep things organized. I had no idea why. She'd treat patients, and after work, she'd look through the books in the office. She started looking for ways to explain herself.

I remember reading that sentence and thinking, wait, do I have ADHD? I didn't really think I could because as far as I knew, ADHD meant you couldn't focus. When I'm interested in something or I have a deadline, I focus so well that I sort of forget the rest of the world exists. I found an article on ADHD. It explained that ADHD is a spectrum of attentional issues.

I remember reading that sentence and thinking, wait, do I have ADHD? I didn't really think I could because as far as I knew, ADHD meant you couldn't focus. When I'm interested in something or I have a deadline, I focus so well that I sort of forget the rest of the world exists. I found an article on ADHD. It explained that ADHD is a spectrum of attentional issues.

Did anything in these books say anything about adults who were disorganized? She didn't find much, but working at this clinic definitely confirmed that she was different.

Did anything in these books say anything about adults who were disorganized? She didn't find much, but working at this clinic definitely confirmed that she was different.

The next day, I talked to my therapist. She suggested I take a self-screener. So I took it, and it said that I have symptoms of ADHD. And I, for lack of a better word, I pouted. I didn't want to have ADHD. Everything I read said that women with ADHD struggle in relationships, careers, and as parents. I wanted to believe I'd figure these things out.

The next day, I talked to my therapist. She suggested I take a self-screener. So I took it, and it said that I have symptoms of ADHD. And I, for lack of a better word, I pouted. I didn't want to have ADHD. Everything I read said that women with ADHD struggle in relationships, careers, and as parents. I wanted to believe I'd figure these things out.

Sari was in her early 40s at that point. She'd always been introverted, but now it seemed even more intense. She couldn't figure out how to keep up. She'd watch her coworkers taking notes in the middle of conversations and wonder how they did it. She could either write notes or talk. She couldn't do both. At some point, her boss assigned her to a new project.

Sari was in her early 40s at that point. She'd always been introverted, but now it seemed even more intense. She couldn't figure out how to keep up. She'd watch her coworkers taking notes in the middle of conversations and wonder how they did it. She could either write notes or talk. She couldn't do both. At some point, her boss assigned her to a new project.

And to hear I might have a condition that apparently makes it harder to do these things, it felt scary. I booked a telehealth appointment with a psychiatrist. On a cold morning in February 2022, I sat down in front of my computer, logged into a video platform.