RSD – When rejection doesn’t just hurt, it breaks you

Some people hear “no” and move on.
Some people get corrected and don’t take it personally.
Some people can handle silence in a conversation without spiraling.

But for some of us, even a small shift in tone feels like a storm.

That’s RSD — Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria.
A nervous system that reads between the lines… and sometimes invents them.
A brain wired to detect danger in disconnection.
A heart that shatters before you can say, “It wasn’t personal.”

RSD isn’t being dramatic.
It’s not a personality flaw.
It’s a neurobiological reaction — intense, instant, overwhelming.
It’s when a delayed text, a neutral face, or a missed invitation feels like confirmation:
"You messed up. You’re not wanted. You ruined everything."

Even when you know it’s irrational — it still feels real.
So real that it hijacks your day. Your mood. Your ability to think clearly.

For me, RSD looks like:

• Re-reading a message 10 times, wondering what I said wrong

• Apologizing excessively — just in case

• Avoiding situations where I might be rejected

• Creating distance before someone else can leave

• Mentally collapsing after a misunderstanding

It’s exhausting. And so often, invisible.

But knowing what it is… changed everything.
I stopped calling myself “too sensitive.”
I started noticing the patterns, not just the pain.
I learned to pause before reacting. To breathe. To self-soothe.
To gently remind myself: “This feeling is loud — but it might not be true.”

If you resonate with this,
please know:
You are not broken. You’re not overreacting.
You’re someone who feels deeply and fears loss — maybe because you’ve been hurt before.
And you deserve safe connection, even when your brain doubts it.

Softly, with you. Always.