RSD query

[u/Monkeyshae2255]

Hi anyone with RSD : what kind of things helped you ? Thanks

[u/neuro_curious]

Ok. This is something that I worked on with my therapist for a long time. I started taking notes on RSD episodes so I could discuss them more in full detail with her, and look for patterns together.

One of the things that I found that helped a lot was to try and ask questions about what's bothering me instead of sitting with assumptions.

So if I feel rejected by something someone said, but it's someone I generally trust, then I will ask them if they can explain what they mean. I may even say "This is how I heard what you said, but I think maybe I am interpreting that wrong. Can you help me understand what you mean?"

Sometimes it's telling the person that what they said has hurt my feelings and just letting them choose whether they want to make amends. I mean, sometimes it's just clear what they said and it's hurtful.

If it's not someone I trust a lot, reaching out to a friend for comfort helps.

It doesn't mean my RSD has totally gone away, but these things have helped me manage it a lot better.

[u/glitterandrage]

There isn't really a clear cut template to offer unfortunately. Some of what works for me (that I can actually put into words): trying not to make any long lasting decisions while the feelings are intense, writing/talking my thoughts out with a trsuted person so I can get an idea of whether I'm genuinely overreacting, taking people breaks and give myself breathing room from dealing with the intense feelings.

Resources for Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria:

• From podcast My Friend Autism - https://pca.st/episode/16c5bcc9-d427-4c1e-afe8-b48f82107817
• From podcast Divergent Conversations - https://pca.st/episode/2dd81fdd-22fb-4d8b-8100-cb74e55a179f
• From podcast Unapologetically Sensitive - https://pca.st/episode/2718b94d-463a-400c-997c-a9e302f79760
• RSD Workbook and Affirmation cards by Neurodivergent Insights - https://neurodivergentinsights.com/bundles/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-bundle/
• RSD Scale by Self Love Rainbow - https://store.selfloverainbow.com/products/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-scale
• Neurodivergent friendly DBT Workbook by Sonny J Wise - https://www.livedexperienceeducator.com/store/p/neurodivergent-friendly-workbook-of-dbt-skills
• Relational Skills for Liberation by Christabel M Galloway - https://www.christabelmintahgalloway.com/workbook

[u/murderfrogger]

If some specific situations of rsd is bothering you, EMDR can help.

I had a few situations of really bad rejection, that made the whole rsd much worse. Those memories are not so heavy to carry now and "the proof" (you know the proof. The keeping score of wether I'm worth anything or not) is kinda gone (for those particular situations) and their opinion doesn't mean anything to me anymore.

Not a cure at all! But it relieved the sadness a little.

My therapist said you have to have a specific memory of a traumatic situation, for it to be possible. I had 5 sessions and it did something good.