Every ADHD adults needs to hear this 💚

1. APAlex Partridge0:00

   Children with ADHD hear 20,000 more micro-rejections than a neurotypical child. "You're embarrassing yourself. Why are you being lazy? Stop biting your nails. Why are you crying? Stop being dramatic. You're too sensitive. You're really rude. Stop being weird. Stop fidgeting. Calm down. Be normal. Stop it." Even non-verbal rejections like an eye roll. This turns them into adults who experience something called Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria. It causes extreme emotional pain when someone rejects or criticizes them. One tiny comment, like a friend saying they're too busy to see them, can trigger a nervous system collapse that feels like they're being attacked, and it means they can't do anything unless it's perfect. They stay in the office four hours later than others. They stay up all night to complete the work to a high standard. They work obscenely hard simply to protect themselves from the emotional pain that comes when their boss makes a tiny correction to their work. They fear disappointing people. This turns them into people pleasers. They abandon their own wants and needs to satisfy the wants and needs of others. They're always over-apologizing. They hide their suffering because they don't want to cause a fuss or let anyone down, but they're crumbling inside, drinking or eating in secret, silently imploding emotionally, filled with sadness and shame. They avoid making decisions. It feels safer to avoid the conversation. They don't apply for that promotion. They stay in that abusive relationship. They let that friend keep walking over them. Rejection sensitivity dysphoria is exhausting, debilitating, and dangerous, which is why I wrote this book. I've spoken to every rejection sensitivity dysphoria expert in the world during the writing process, and I've condensed all of my learnings, tips, and strategies into this book. I wish I could read this book to my younger self. Always remember, you're not too sensitive. You are not broken. You have rejection sensitivity dysphoria, and you have always been enough.

Episode duration: 2:01