I Grew Up With Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria. Parents Can Learn From My Story

"When someone told me they were too busy to attend my birthday party it felt like they’d swung a bag of bricks into my chest."

I’ve always felt extremely vulnerable to criticism and rejection – as if I could be totally crushed at any moment, like an orange whose flesh is exposed without its peel.

A tiny negative touch from the outside world and I can implode into a sticky mess, dripping with sadness and rage.

As someone with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, I certainly attracted a lot of criticism growing up.

This is very common: it’s estimated a child with ADHD experiences 20,000 extra criticisms compared with a neurotypical child, because of the different ways they process and respond to the world.

Comments such as ‘Stop being so sensitive’. ‘Stop fidgeting’ and ‘You’re so lazy’ were commonplace........

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