Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) is easily one of the most talked-about topics in the neurodiversity space right now. Often described as the intense emotional pain that comes with actual or perceived criticism, it’s an incredibly heavy thing to live with.
While it’s true that people with ADHD are significantly more likely to experience RSD, looking at it as only an ADHD trait misses a huge part of the picture. When we oversimplify it, we miss how it connects to wider rejection sensitivity and emotional dysregulation. Even worse, it can lead to unhelpful approaches in clinical and professional practices.
Overview
This talk is all about challenging the misinformation out there. We’ll be digging into the actual evidence and looking at how ADHD, early life trauma, attachment difficulties, and mental ill health all intersect to create this experience.
What you’ll learn
The truth behind the myths: What the evidence actually says about RSD, moving past the social media buzzwords.
The wider picture: How RSD connects to early life trauma, attachment difficulties, and mental health struggles, rather than just being an isolated ADHD trait.
Recognising emotional dysregulation: How to identify the difference between standard rejection sensitivity and deep emotional dysregulation.
Better ways to support: Practical insights into what actually helps when supporting someone dealing with RSD, whether at home or in professional practice.
Who should attend
Individuals & Parents: Anyone navigating ADHD, autism, or intense rejection sensitivity firsthand, or supporting a family member who is.
Practitioners & Clinicians: Therapists, coaches, counselors, and medical professionals looking to deepen their clinical understanding and avoid common diagnostic blind spots.
Educators & Allies: Anyone working within the neurodiversity space who wants to move past the stereotypes and understand the deeper roots of emotional pain.
Your workshop facilitators:
Dr Tom Nicholson is a prominent neurodiversity expert who has spoken live to over 100,000 people on understanding neurodivergence. He delivers bespoke talks, ongoing consultancy, and training for organisations across education, health and social care, and corporate sectors. Tom holds a position as Assistant Professor of Mental Health Nursing at Northumbria University where his research explores the lived experience of neurodivergence. Tom is also a qualified mental health nurse with experience working within a Children and Young People’s neurodevelopmental assessment service. Diagnosed with ADHD in childhood, Tom uses his lived experience of ADHD alongside his clinical and academic background to give a nuanced and varied perspective to his work.
REPLAY INCLUDED: If you can't make the date, then a recording will be available after the webinar for anyone purchasing a ticket.
Previous webinar attendees said:
“I have found this incredibly helpful. We are quite new to this space and I am so grateful - thank you.”
“Really enjoyed this webinar and the presenting style. Good balance of making it accessible and deeper diving. Excellent.”
“Thank you so much for this evening, we are new to exploring this area and have found this evening really insightful.”
“Very informative and no pressure, made to feel comfortable from the start and just refreshing to feel seen and understood.”
“You have helped us to feel validated, seen and heard, and able to move through our daughter’s recent diagnosis. Thank you.”
“Just found it very useful and practical, not only informative.”
“I really liked the helpful suggestions of different ways of explaining… I struggle to connect with abstract concepts so that was really helpful. thank you!”
“Thank you so much for the seminar, really clear and useful.”
“Another really insightful webinar with so many helpful take-aways, really well & kindly explained.”
“I really appreciated the webinar, the content was great and there were regular check ins of the comments and encouragement of emojis/participation; I felt that participants were valued and heard.”
“Thank you very much indeed, really helpful and reassuring (not alone!).”
Please note that this webinar is for educational and informational purposes and is not clinical advice or therapy.
The Neurodivergent Parent Space
Our online event will also give you a taster of what we offer in The Neurodivergent Parent Space, our unique community of parents who are neurodivergent (or wondering).
In a warm, neuroaffirmative space, we offer a library of tailored,evidence-based resources, our premium self-paced emotional regulation course, tea & chat sessions with experienced clinical psychologists, and much more.
Plus, of course, connection with other neurodivergent parents to help you thrive on your parenting journey.
All our webinars and replays are FREE to community members, and best of all the community is FREE to try - and thereafter just £24.99 per month, which is the cost of one regular webinar.
Find out more - and come and join us here!
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The webinar will be held over Zoom. You will receive a link to the webinar before it starts
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No, at The Neurodiversity Practice, we understand that you can participate with your camera off. You may wish to type and offer your thoughts and contributions in the chat.
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Yes if you cannot access the training live it will be recorded and you will have access to the recording for one month.
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YES! We have self identifying, and wondering facilitators, lived experience through family members as well as clinical experience as psychologists. We also have a panel of neurodivergent parents who co-produce with us and support the work we do.