Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria Test for Kids

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Estimates suggest that 98% of people with ADHD experience rejection-sensitive dysphoria. RSD results from natural brain differences and is commonly associated with ADHD and autism. RSD falls under the neurodivergence umbrella and the cause is typically difficulty regulating emotions. But how does RSD affect daily life, and what are the symptoms? We’ve got everything you need to know, including a rejection-sensitive dysphoria test below!

Common Symptoms of RSD

  • Feeling rejected
  • Feeling criticism when there is no criticism given
  • Frequent irritability 
  • Crying uncontrollably
  • Difficulty focusing 
  • Self-isolating
  • Frequent outbursts
  • Feeling ashamed
Read more: Free Neurodivergent Test: 10 Questions

What is Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria?

Rejection-sensitive dysphoria is not an official diagnosis. Instead, it’s a common symptom of emotional dysregulation that people with ADHD experience. People with ADHD have difficulty self-regulating their emotions resulting from processing differences in the brain. With RSD, a person goes from feeling fine to becoming overwhelmed with intense emotional or physical pain in seconds.

A Blue Goally displaying Mood Tuner app's activities under the mood "red." The selected activity is "drink a glass of water." Next to it is Goally's care team app displaying the settings of Mood tuner, where parents decide time windows and control which activities are played under which mood color.

Goally’s Kid’s Tablet has an app called Mood Tuner to help kids identify & regulate their emotions in a fun way. Here’s a list of the 15 other top skill-building apps we recommend:

People with rejection-sensitive dysphoria often try to keep their emotions under wraps when they’re around others. And it’s not just that – they can be super vigilant and always on edge, waiting for someone to reject or criticize them. Even if there’s no actual rejection happening, someone with RSD might feel rejection in situations where most other people wouldn’t. It’s a tough way to go through life, for sure.

RSD makes people avoid new opportunities, ruminate over past embarrassments, and take things too personally. It can also make people become people pleasers and present fake versions of themselves to avoid rejection. Individuals with rejection-sensitive dysphoria will likely become perfectionists in a way that’s detrimental to their health.

Living With RSD | Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria Test

Parents with kids who experience RSD need to acknowledge that their emotions are valid. An action plan for experiencing emotional outbursts can alleviate some anxiety about living with RSD. Creating affirmations and acknowledging your strengths when having thoughts of rejection can help reframe negative thoughts. Create a support system by telling your family and friends about your experiences with RSD and how they can encourage you. 

a parent who took the rejection sensitive dysphoria test for his son to see if his child has common symptoms of RSD
Read More: How to Deal with RSD

The following rejection-sensitive dysphoria test for kids is not a diagnosis tool. It has questions relating to shared experiences of individuals who have ADHD and experience RSD symptoms. Please read each question carefully and choose the best answer. 

Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria in Kids Quiz

Please Note: This information is not meant to diagnose or treat and should not take the place of personal consultation, as needed, with a qualified healthcare provider and/or BCBA.

The number of attempts remaining is 1

1 / 10

Does your child feel like they don’t have control over their emotions?

2 / 10

Does your kid ruminate over embarrassing moments?

3 / 10

Does your child experience emotions as physical sensations?

4 / 10

Is your child overly sensitive?

5 / 10

Does your child get anxious when socializing from thinking no one likes them?

6 / 10

Is your child a people pleaser?

7 / 10

Does your kid feel overwhelmingly sad when they think about rejection or criticism?

8 / 10

Do your child avoid new opportunities because they think they’ll fail?

9 / 10

Is your kiddo their own biggest critic?

10 / 10

Does your child experience fits of rage from hurt feelings?

0%

Goally | Chill Zone App for Kids With RSD

Does your child have RSD and need some extra guidance on building emotional regulation skills? Goally’s TV app for kids has the most robust video library of low stimulation, safe, and regulating videos for kids. Ranging from content like “Train videos” to “5 Minute Meditation break,” we have dozens of calming videos for kids as they learn how to build emotional regulation skills.

2 Goallys showing off the Chill Zone Channel.

Dive into the Chill Zone channel, where Polly the Penguin leads your child through emotional regulation exercises and chill videos. Every video is made to help kids relax, regulate their bodies, and calm their nervous system.

Try Goally’s entire suite of apps (including visual schedules, rewards, and even an emotional regulation app that uses the zones of regulation!) on any device, or get Goally’s skill-building tablet for kids that’s distraction-free.

It’s beneficial for kids with rejection-sensitive dysphoria to practice emotional regulation techniques so they can learn to self-regulate when feeling overwhelmed. Goally’s apps for neurodivergent kiddos have emotional regulation practices built into games, so kids can learn while they play! Structure your kids’ day with our visual schedule app, which shows what’s happening throughout the day. This ensures that no unexpected activities can overwhelm kids and cause meltdowns.

This post was originally published on 11/30/2022. It was updated on 06/14/2023. 

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Goally
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