The Science of Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) | Dr James Kustow

ℹ️ EPISODE INFO

Released

January 28, 2025

Duration

1h 19m

Channel

ADHD Chatter Podcast

Watch on YouTube

▶ Open ↗

📝 EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Are you sensitive to rejection? Does a tiny criticism cause an internalised sadness or externalised rage? Is it causing havoc in your life and relationships? Don’t worry, you're not alone, and there is a solution. Dr James Kustow is a leading Harley Street psychiatrist and an adult ADHD expert. James also wrote the best selling book entitled How To Thrive With Adult ADHD. 00:00 Trailer 01:04 Dedication 01:12 How RSD feels in our body 04:18 RSD visual analogies 07:05 How RSD shows in your patients 18:52 Tiimo advert 21:44 How to manage RSD when your family triggers you 26:50 How alcohol affects emotional regulation 29:54 Some common family events that trigger RSD, and how to manage them 35:01 Can loneliness be a trigger for RSD 37:21 Will RSD ever be a medical diagnosis 40:59 What common social interactions might cause RSD that a Neurotypical person might be able to ignore? 44:39 Are RSD and "people pleasing" connected? 45:44 Can RSD manifest in subtle ways that we don’t notice 51:14 The RSD item (an orb) 52:52 The ADHD agony aunt (How to manage family disagreements) 56:29 How to find your passion 58:09 How RSD shows up at work (and how to manage it) 01:00:11 Managing RSD in romantic relationships 01:03:47 Does RSD present differently in different sexes? 01:05:07 Can RSD get that bad that someone might want to end their life? 01:06:26 Can RSD dip into the realm of paranoia? 01:07:43 Why some people are never affected by rejection 01:08:49 Should we believe everything our super sharp ADHD intuition tells us? 01:11:43 3 tips on how we can we manage our RSD 01:15:17 Is there a reframing of RSD to be a positive thing? 01:18:04 A letter from the previous guest (3 rules to live by) Introductory 60% off Dr James's Solo-Soma movement meditation 👉 https://www.thegrovepractice.com/self-study-courses/ Visit The Grove Practice 👉 https://www.thegrovepractice.com/profle/dr-james-kustow/ Get 30% off an annual Tiimo subscription 👉 https://www.tiimoapp.com/adhdchatter Note: Before the interview begun, Dr James Kustow made it clear that the concept of RSD in ADHD is only anecdotal and that there are currently no studies to support what is discussed in this conversation. Producer: Timon Woodward DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

🎤 SPEAKERS

• Dr. James Kustow

  guest

  Psychiatrist and medical doctor (Harley Street), author focused on adult ADHD and related emotional dysregulation such as rejection sensitive dysphoria.

• Alex Partridge

  host

  Podcast host of ADHD Chatter who interviews experts and shares personal experiences of living with ADHD.

🧾 EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of ADHD Chatter Podcast, featuring Dr. James Kustow and Alex Partridge, The Science of Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) | Dr James Kustow explores Dr James Kustow Explains Rejection Sensitivity in ADHD and How to Manage It Dr Kustow describes RSD as an emotional tsunami of shame, anxiety and anger, with looping thoughts, a fight-or-flight surge and a crash afterwards, which he links to the failing inhibition or 'brakes' in ADHD.

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