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Autism and ADHD both can be sources of something called Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria[0] which is, in my experience, one of the most seriously socially damaging

Autism and ADHD both can be sources of something called Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria[0] which is, in my experience, one of the most seriously socially damaging aspects of ADHD. Fairly new field of study but there is some evidence that low doses of guanfacine and clonidine can offer help. More research needs to be done, but it appears to be genetic and neurological and not, as some may intuit, sourced in trauma. [0]https://www.additudemag.com/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-and-adhd/ https://www.additudemag.com/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-an...

nonbirithm 5y ago
Please note that "Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria" is not a medically standardized term. It was coined by an ADHD specialist and it appears he was the only real person promoting its usage. https://psychology.stackexchange.com/questions/12583/what-is-the-relationship-between-rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-and-adhd https://psychology.stackexchange.com/questions/12583/what-is... After I discovered this I usually labeled the qualities in myself as general social anxiety, or just "being bad at making friends or social situations." I wanted to believe that labelling every negative aspect of myself would help me understand my problems better, but it seems like it just made the appearance of those traits feel justified to me. I've had to discipline myself not to take the easy way out and use the labels as excuses or explanations for my regrettable behavior when I already know of techniques or medicine to treat that behavior that have worked in the past. Learned helplessness has been pervasive throughout my entire life.
- hiram112 5y ago
  "Rejection sensitivity" is a term that has been around for decades within the psychiatric community. It used to be one of the main symptoms used to distinguish typical depression from "atypical" or neurotic depression, and patients who suffer severely from it usually do bettrr on older medications like MAOIs instead of modern SSRIs. Interestingly, severe social anxiety will often only be helped by MAOIs.

nonbirithm 5y ago

Please note that "Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria" is not a medically standardized term. It was coined by an ADHD specialist and it appears he was the only real person promoting its usage. https://psychology.stackexchange.com/questions/12583/what-is-the-relationship-between-rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-and-adhd https://psychology.stackexchange.com/questions/12583/what-is... After I discovered this I usually labeled the qualities in myself as general social anxiety, or just "being bad at making friends or social situations." I wanted to believe that labelling every negative aspect of myself would help me understand my problems better, but it seems like it just made the appearance of those traits feel justified to me. I've had to discipline myself not to take the easy way out and use the labels as excuses or explanations for my regrettable behavior when I already know of techniques or medicine to treat that behavior that have worked in the past. Learned helplessness has been pervasive throughout my entire life.

hiram112 5y ago
"Rejection sensitivity" is a term that has been around for decades within the psychiatric community. It used to be one of the main symptoms used to distinguish typical depression from "atypical" or neurotic depression, and patients who suffer severely from it usually do bettrr on older medications like MAOIs instead of modern SSRIs. Interestingly, severe social anxiety will often only be helped by MAOIs.