TPP 479: Dr. Sharon Saline on Understanding Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) in Tweens and Teens

Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children

Debbie Reber

Education, Kids & Family, Parenting

4.8 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 16 December 2025

⏱️ 36 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today we’re talking about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria—often referred to as RSD—a deeply emotional experience that affects so many individuals with ADHD and other forms of neurodivergence. My guest is Dr. Sharon Saline, a clinical psychologist who has spent over 30 years working with neurodivergent children, teens, adults, and families. In our conversation, Sharon breaks down what RSD is, how it shows up in daily life, and why understanding it can be such a game changer—for both kids and parents. We talk about the emotional and psychological impact of RSD, practical tools for managing it, and how to cultivate self-compassion and resilience in the face of painful rejection or criticism. Sharon also shares strategies for helping kids navigate social situations with more confidence and less overwhelm, and for supporting ourselves as parents along the way. About Dr. Sharon Saline Dr. Sharon Saline is the author of the award-winning book, What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew: Working Together to Empower Kids for Success in School and Life and The ADHD solution card deck. She specializes in working with ADHD and neurodivergent children, teens, adults and families–helping them improve cognitive and social executive functioning skills, resilience, self-confidence and personal relationships. She consults with schools, clinics and businesses internationally. Dr. Saline is an instructor at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, a part-time lecturer at the Smith College School for Social Work, blogger for PsychologyToday.com, contributing expert on MASS Live at WWLP TV, serves on the editorial board of and hosts a monthly live event for ADDitudemag.com. Things you'll learn from this episode How rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) shows up as an intense emotional response to perceived rejection or criticism Why many people with ADHD also experience RSD and how it can affect social interactions and relationships How RSD can trigger deep shame and emotional pain, often overlapping with social anxiety Why self-compassion, resilience, and reframing negative thoughts are key coping strategies How parents can support their children by validating their feelings rather than minimizing them Why understanding RSD is empowering and helps individuals navigate relationships with greater self-awareness Resources mentioned Dr. Sharon Saline’s website What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew: Working Together to Empower Kids for Success in School and Life by Dr. Sharon Saline The ADHD Solution Card Deck Dr. Sharon Saline on Instagram Dr. Sharon Saline on Facebook Dr. Sharon Saline on Threads Dr. Sharon Saline on LinkedIn Dr. Sharon Saline’s YouTube channel Dr. Sharon Saline on Understanding and Working with ADHD in Girls (Full-Tilt Parenting) The ADHD Solution Card Deck: 50 Strategies to Help Kids Learn, Reduce Stress & Improve Family Connections (created by Dr. Sharon Saline) Sharon Saline on What Our ADHD Kids Wish We Knew (Full-Tilt Parenting) Dr. Megan Anna Neff on RSD (Neurodivergent Insights) Sharon Saline on RSD (Additude Today) Thomas Brown / Brown Clinic for Attention and Related Disorders Dr. William Dodson How ADHD Shapes Your Perceptions (PDF by William Dodson) Big Kids, Big Emotions: Helping Teens with ADHD and Rejection Sensitivity Improve Emotional Regulation (Webinar with Sharon Saline on Additude Magazine) Q: Are My Feelings Valid, Even If RSD Is Involved? (Sharon Saline on Additude Magazine) I Feel Judged & Attacked: A Teen’s View of RSD (Sharon Saline on Additude Magazine) Dear Dr. Sharon: Is Rejection Sensitivity All In My Head? (Sharon Saline’s website) Social Anxiety vs. Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) with Sharon Saline, Psy.D. (Webinar) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey Sainsbury's. Off to my neighbour's Christmas do later. Got any gift ideas? How about our
0:05.5	Taste the Difference chocolate chip short bread tin, deliciously moorish or butter biscuits in a boozy
0:10.5	box? Or give them a treat for the eyes and the taste buds with our indulgent taste the difference
0:15.4	cherry and amaretto panitone. What do you think? I think I'd rather keep them for myself.
0:20.6	Looking for a tasty,
0:21.5	festive gift. Ask Sainsbury's. Sainsbury's good food for all of us. Subject to availability,
0:27.9	available in selected supermarkets and online.
0:32.2	I'm Debbie Rieber and you're listening to Full Tilt Parenting. Today we're talking about
0:37.4	rejection-sensitive dysphoria,
0:39.7	often known as RSD, a deeply emotional experience that affects so many individuals with ADHD
0:45.9	and other ways of being neurodivergent. And to explore this with me, joining me for the third time
0:51.7	on the show is Dr. Sharon Selene, a clinical psychologist who spent
0:56.0	over 30 years working with neurodivergent kids, teens, adults, and families. She's the author of
1:01.5	the book, What Your ADHD Child Wishes You New, and the ADHD Solution Card Deck,
1:06.7	and she consults internationally with schools and clinics and organizations to help people
1:11.2	strengthen executive functioning, resilience, and connection. So Sharon's joined me in the past to talk
1:16.6	about her book, as well as about ADHD and girls. They're both great episodes, and you can find
1:22.4	the link to those in the show notes. But today is a deep dive into RSD, and it is really a fascinating conversation.
1:29.0	Sharon breaks down what rejection-sensitive dysphoria is, how it shows up in daily life,
1:35.3	and why understanding it can be such a game changer for both our kids and for us.
1:40.7	We'll talk about the emotional and psychological impact of RSD, practical tools for managing
1:46.0	it, and how to cultivate self-compassion and resilience in the face of painful rejection or
	...

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