Understanding ADHD & RSD

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All Aboard ADHD

Claire Quigley Ward

51 episodes

1 week ago

All Aboard ADHD is the podcast that helps parents and caregivers navigate the ADHD journey. Whether you're right at the beginning asking, “What now?” or further along the path wondering, “What next?” - All Aboard ADHD is here for you. Each episode brings expert insights, inspiring special guest stories, and real-life experiences from parents whose children have ADHD - helping you feel informed, empowered, and less alone. If you're supporting a child with ADHD, have ADHD yourself, or simply want to understand more about the incredible ADHD brain, join us on this journey of discovery.

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All content for All Aboard ADHD is the property of Claire Quigley Ward and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

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Understanding ADHD & RSD

All Aboard ADHD

59 minutes 15 seconds

1 month ago

Understanding ADHD & RSD

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://amzn.to/482BlUQ
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.