Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria explained as Paris Hilton opens up on ‘demon in my mind’
Paris Hilton has opened up about her experience with ADHD and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD).
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or more commonly referred to as ADHD, is a neurodevelopmental condition that is usually characterised by struggles with a lack of concentration and impulsivity.
However, ADHD, which is something a person is born with, comes with a whole host of other conditions, like rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD), which can lead to emotional dysregulation and mental health struggles.
Some 15.5 million US adults have been diagnosed with ADHD, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and so too have roughly seven million children aged between three and 17 years old.
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Paris was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, but had shown clear symptoms throughout her childhood.
"School... was so difficult for me. I would study, I could never remember anything. I was always failing my tests. I was just always in detention, getting in trouble," Paris told Lauryn and Michael Bosstick on The Skinny Confidential podcast.
The Simple Life star went on to explain how both ADHD and RSD made her life 'extremely painful'.
What is rejection sensitive dysphoria?
Rejection sensitive dysphoria is a condition that affects a person's emotional response to rejection, or what they perceive to be rejection.
While we all might feel sad about being rejected, what differentiates RSD from regular sadness is the intensity with which the person experiences it, with the Cleveland Clinic describing it as 'intense emotional pain'.
A neurotypical person might eventually brush it off, while for someone with RSD, it can severely impact their mental health, as they will often go out of their way to avoid situations, like new projects or pursuing new relationships, to dodge the intense emotion surrounding rejection.
Paris compared RSD to 'a demon in your mind' that is pretty much constantly telling you 'negative self-talk', adding: "I've been through so many things in my life, and especially in the 2000s, just everything I was going through with the media and suffering from this RSD with ADHD, it was like so, so extremely painful."
While not an officially recognized medical condition, RSD is often linked to ADHD and other mood and personality disorders, increasing the chances of self-harm and suicide, as per the Cleveland Clinic.
On RSD itself, Paris said: "You feel things on such a deep level, and it's so painful. [With] anything negative it's very difficult sometimes... but now I know it's not real.
"It's just the RSD kicking in. So, there's so much to learn."
What are the symptoms of RSD?
While the main symptom of RSD is intense emotional pain, which can vary from person to person, several other symptoms could be present, which include:
- Easy to feel embarrassed or self-conscious
- Low self-esteem and difficulty believing in themselves
- Can't regulate emotions when feeling rejected. May react with 'sudden shows of anger or rage' or 'burst into tears'
- Others might 'turn inwards' and go through a 'severe depression'
- 'People pleasers' who become obsessed with avoiding disapproval of others
- Put off beginning projects, tasks or goals 'where there’s a chance of failure'
- Perfectionism, which in turn causes intense anxiety and stress
How does RSD affect those with ADHD?
According to Harley Street Mental Health, for people with ADHD, RSD is another facet of emotional dysregulation, with neurodivergent people often struggling to regulate their emotions in day-to-day life.
ADHD can cause intense emotional reactions, mood swings, and impulsive outbursts, and RSD can lead to neutral comments being interpreted as rejection, which Harley Street says can lead to misunderstandings and emotional distress.
How is RSD managed?
RSD can be managed through talking therapies and, if linked to ADHD or a similar condition, medication.
The Cleveland Clinic stresses that reducing your day-to-day stress, giving yourself downtime and practising self-compassion also help.
People who are suffering from RSD may need to be assessed for ADHD by a specialist or other conditions to be prescribed the correct medication.
Paris said that she wants to 'reframe' her experience of ADHD, admitting that in some cases it has been her 'superpower.'
"I wouldn't be the entrepreneur I am today without it. It gives me like this drive and [with] always being in the future," she said, adding that she was 'obsessed with spreading the message' because she wants people to know 'it doesn't have to be something that holds them back in life.'
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 to reach a 24-hour crisis center or you can webchat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
Topics: Celebrity, Health, Mental Health, Paris Hilton, Podcast, YouTube
Ellie Kemp