TPP 479: Dr. Sharon Saline on Understanding Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) in Tweens and Teens
episode
Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children
35 min
1 speaker
5 chapters
transcribed just now
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What is Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) and why does it matter for ADHD kids?
I'm Debbie Reaver and you're listening to Full Tilt Parenting. Today we're talking about rejection sensitive dysphoria, often known as RSD, a deeply emotional experience that affects so many individuals with ADHD and other ways of being neurodivergent. And to explore this with me, joining me for the third time on the show is Dr. Sharon Selene, a clinical psychologist who spent over 30 years working with neurodivergent kids, teens, adults, and families. She's the author of the book What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew and the ADHD Solution Card Deck, and she consults internationally with schools and clinics and organizations to help people strengthen executive functioning, resilience, And connection.
So Sharon's joined me in the past to talk about her book, as well as about ADHD and girls. They're both great episodes, and you can find the link to those in the show notes. But today is a deep dive into RSD, and it is really a fascinating conversation. Sharon breaks down what rejection sensitive dysphoria is, how it shows up in daily life, and why understanding it can be such a game changer. For both our kids and for us. We'll talk about the emotional and psychological impact of RSD, practical tools for managing it, and how to cultivate self-compassion and resilience in the face of painful rejection or criticism. And Sharon's also going to share strategies for helping kids navigate social situations with more confidence and less overwhelm, and for supporting ourselves as parents along the way.
So RSD is so much more than social anxiety. It's more than being highly sensitive. It is a truly complicated experience that can be especially challenging for kids to navigate. It's also very misunderstood and not very well known, even among some therapeutic circles. So I would love your help in getting this episode out there. Just click on the share button on your podcast app and send it out to friends and communities who would benefit. or go to the Full Tilt Parenting YouTube channel and grab the link to share on social media. Thanks so much. And now here's my conversation with Sharon.
Hey Sharon, welcome back to the podcast. Thank you so much for having me, Debbie. I'm really excited to be here and I'm really excited about our topic today.
I am two. This is one of my special areas of interest. I'm fascinated by RSD, rejection sensitive dysphoria, which we're gonna get all into. It's been a couple of years since you've been on the show. And the last time was actually talking about ADHD in girls. And then before that, you were on the show to talk about your book. what your ADHD child wishes you knew. I will have links to both of those episodes in the show notes. Listeners, go check those out. Great conversations. But I did a conversation on RSD a few years ago and you're like, Oh, I want to talk more about this. This is really what I do. So I'm so excited we're making this happen. Before we get into it, tell us why this is something you're so passionate about and how this fits into the work that you do in the world.
I am
sort of a late diagnosis ADHD person. My ADHD is more about emotional regulation, feelings of sometimes being flooded or overwhelmed, difficulty with time management or shifting. And the reason that I'm so interested in RSD is because I have it. And I have had it probably my whole life. When I was growing up, my parents and my brother used to sort of tease me and they would say, Oh, super sensitive Sharon, you know, like you're just too sensitive. as if that was something that was bad, something to be ashamed of. And actually, I feel like my sensitivity makes me a much better psychologist, a better writer, a better presenter. It's an asset. But for a lot of people, Who live with neurodivergence. And that would be ADHD, might be ADHD with a learning disability, that's at least 70% of kids.
ADHD so rarely travels alone that somewhere between 60 and 100% of children and teens with ADHD have a coexisting diagnosis. And that can be a learning disability, it could be a mental health issue, it could be a health issue, but it's usually the first two.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) and why does it matter for ADHD kids?
0:02–5:56
2
How does RSD show up in everyday life for tweens and teens?
5:56–12:47
3
Why do social anxiety, perfectionism, and imposter syndrome often overlap with RSD?
12:47–20:48
4
What are the core emotional and psychological impacts of RSD on children?
20:48–28:01
5
Which practical tools and coping strategies help manage RSD symptoms?
28:01–35:56
Speakers
1 identifiedMore from Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children
TPP 266a: A Conversation with Poet and Advocate LeDerick Horne
TPP 522: A Whole Child Approach to ADHD with Phil Boucher, M.D.
TPP 091a: A Conversation With Steve Silberman About His Book “Neurotribes”
TPP 521: A Conversation with Dr. Peter Gray About Restoring Childhood
TPP 253a: Advocate and Author Jonathan Mooney on Why Normal Sucks
TPP 520: Dr. Özgür Bolat on Why Rewards Backfire and the Real Science of Motivating Kids