SEND Parenting Podcast

EP 162: Why rejection hits so hard...ADHD & RSD explained


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Have you ever watched your child fall apart over something that seems small — a correction at school, a cancelled plan, a simple “not now”… and wondered what is really going on?

In this powerful solo episode, Dr Olivia explores Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) — a term you may have seen everywhere on social media, but one that is often misunderstood.

Blending medical insight, real-life parenting experience, and practical tools, this episode unpacks:

• What RSD actually is (and why it is not in the DSM)
 • The science behind emotional dysregulation in ADHD
 • Why some experts support the term — and others challenge it
 • What RSD really looks like in children and teenagers (especially girls)
 • Why your child is not “overreacting” — and what their brain is doing instead
 • The link between ADHD, rejection, and lived experience over time

Most importantly, Dr Olivia shares practical, compassionate strategies to help you support your child:

• How to respond in the moment (what helps — and what makes it worse)
 • How to build emotional awareness before meltdown
 • Why validation matters more than logic
 • How to gently reduce avoidance and build resilience
 • The role of therapy and when to consider medication

If you have ever felt confused, exhausted, or alone trying to support a child who feels everything so deeply, this episode will help you understand what is really happening — and how to move forward with confidence.

You are not alone in this. And neither is your child. 

🎉 Join Me in Henley — Book Launch, May 7 @ 6:30 PM  👉 RSVP
An intimate evening in conversation, connection, and celebration.
📚 New Book — Out May 7  👉 Order your copy
Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls
A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.

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SEND Parenting PodcastBy Dr. Olivia Kessel


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