PLAY PODCASTS
467. Why Rejection Feels So Painful (Psychology of Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria)
Season 1 · Episode 467

467. Why Rejection Feels So Painful (Psychology of Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria)

Do You F*cking Mind? · Alexis Fernandez-Preiksa - Neuroscientist and Mindset Coach

January 26, 202644m 29sExplicit

Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (traffic.megaphone.fm) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.

Show Notes

If rejection (or even perceived rejection) feels physically painful, overwhelming, or impossible to shake, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we explore the psychology behind Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) a widely recognized experience (though not a formal diagnosis) that’s especially common in people with ADHD, and anyone who struggles with intense emotional reactions to rejection, criticism, or disapproval.

This episode covers:

  • What RSD actually feels like and why it can feel physically painful

  • The difference between real rejection and perceived rejection

  • Common triggers (and why perception matters more than reality)

  • What’s happening in the brain during an RSD spiral

  • Signs you may be experiencing RSD

  • Why people-pleasing, avoidance, overachievement, and rumination don’t actually help

  • How RSD differs from “normal” emotional sensitivity

  • The link between RSD, ADHD, and emotional dysregulation

This episode isn’t about “toughening up” or stopping emotions from happening.

It’s about learning how to move through rejection without losing yourself to it and rebuilding a sense of control, safety, and self-trust.

If you’ve ever thought, “I know this is irrational, but it feels unbearable,” this conversation will help you understand why and what to do next.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

← All episodes of Do You F*cking Mind?