this post was submitted on 13 May 2024
245 points (97.7% liked)

ADHD Women

1928 readers
2 users here now

A community for women to find support and discuss living with ADHD.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 
top 11 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 22 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I'm a guy, so I apologize for intruding, but if you'll have me:

I recently learned what RSD is while having a panic attack after my wife made a small off-hand comment. Couldn't figure out for the life of me why it felt like my entire life was falling apart just from that, and it wasn't the first time it had happened, so I ended up looking into it.

I gotta say, knowing this is a "thing" actually really helps. Every time this happens, the fact I'm not able to explain it always makes me feel even worse, so being able to point to this has actually eased a lot of my symptoms.

[–] ickplant 4 points 6 months ago

Thank you for sharing your experience. I feel very similarly. And you are more than welcome to post and interact here!

[–] [email protected] 15 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

See the secret is to just never leave your house or socialize and then you can never be hurt. ^please ^don't ^do ^this

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Just looked this up. Some things make so much more sense now

[–] ickplant 5 points 6 months ago

I’m glad! Things made sense to me too when I learned about RSD. My family always called me sensitive because I would cry or get hurt easily. Now I don’t feel like it’s some character flaw.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Obviously this is a real and difficult neuro/psych issue to deal with, and I know some people who probably suffer (but aren't formally diagnosed). Heck, I've been prone to letting certain negative comments send me on a spiral briefly myself.

Unfortunately like a lot of genuine neuro issues, this one seems like a really difficult one for typicals to interact with. Because there are people who react badly to genuine critiques, especially in regard to politics, religion, and tradition. Some of them probably are suffering from RSD but a lot aren't.

[–] ickplant 6 points 6 months ago

When I think of RSD, I don’t necessarily think of people reacting badly externally but instead internalizing it. The “dysphoria” part implies it makes the person feel like shit - nothing about acting or lashing out.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (2 children)

RSD affected my life for 40 years. Once I learned what it is, things changed a bunch. I’m still affected by it, but I don’t let it own me.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago

Teach us your ways.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

Yes, please teach us your ways. Years of therapy, currently in a long-term DBT program, and yet Im having the most awful RSD spiral right now from what? I couldn't even tell you because it doesn't even make sense verbalizing it.

Shit fucking sucks.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

Thank you so much for posting this. My friend is learning about himself and I'm learning about him.