Why does rejection feel so much more intense for people with ADHD and what can we do about it?

In this episode of All Aboard ADHD, Claire is joined by Dr Alex Conner, an ADHD coach, scientist, author, and co-host of The ADHD Adults Podcast, to unpack one of the most painful and often misunderstood experiences within ADHD, Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD).

Dr Conner combines his lived experience as an adult with ADHD, his academic background in neuroscience, and his practical work training ADHD coaches to shed light on why RSD can be so overwhelming and what helps when it hits. He is also co-author of ADHD Unpacked and co-founder of the charity ADHD Adult UK, dedicated to evidence-based education and advocacy.

Together, Claire and Alex explore:

• What rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) really is and why it’s not an official diagnosis, yet feels profoundly real for so many people with ADHD

• How emotional dysregulation connects to RSD and why the ADHD brain can amplify feelings of criticism, rejection, or embarrassment

• The debate around whether RSD is biological, learned, or both and what current science suggests

• The connection between RSD, social anxiety, and hypervigilance, and how to tell them apart

• The ways RSD shows up differently in adults and children from people-pleasing to withdrawal and how parents can help children build autonomy and resilience

• Why communication, self-awareness, and emotional acceptance are essential in managing rejection sensitivity

• The practical strategies that actually help from CBT and ADHD-informed therapy to “making no an option,” reframing, and creating supportive environments

Whether you experience RSD yourself or see your child struggle with it, this episode offers science-based clarity, compassion, and real-world strategies to help make those moments of rejection feel a little less defining.

Further resources and links:

• ADHD Unpacked by Dr Alex Conner and Professor James Brown: https://www.amazon.co.uk/ADHD-Unpacked-Everything-survive-thrive/dp/1526679361 

• The ADHD Adults Podcast hosted by Dr Alex Conner and Professor James Brown: https://theadhdadults.uk/

• ADHD Adult UK: adhdadult.uk

• Focus Mag evidence-based magazine for adults with ADHD: focusmag.uk

• ADHD Coaching Academy: https://www.theadhdcoachingacademy.com/ 

• ADHD coaching and resources from Claire: allaboardadhd.com

• Follow Claire on Instagram & TikTok @allaboardADHD
  

The views shared in this episode are those of the guest, based on their professional expertise and personal experience. This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, educational, or psychological advice. Please consult a qualified professional for personalised support relevant to your individual circumstances.