When Feedback Feels Bigger: ADHD and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria at Work
Understanding Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), why everyday feedback can feel disproportionately painful, and how organisations can respond
Dr Anthony Thompson
Chartered Psychologist & Organisational Psychology Researcher
What to Expect
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) isn't a formal diagnosis, but for many people with ADHD it describes something very real: an intense emotional response to perceived criticism, rejection or failure that can feel completely disproportionate to the moment that triggered it. Research suggests a large proportion of adults with ADHD experience significant emotional regulation challenges, and one recent study found that 77% of young adults with ADHD described experiencing something like RSD. In this session, Dr Anthony Thompson unpacks what RSD is, how it shows up at work — from over-apologising and withdrawing to replaying a comment for days — and what individuals, managers and organisations can do to reduce unnecessary distress and build genuinely psychologically safe feedback cultures.
Topics Covered
- What Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) is, and how it connects to ADHD
- Why ambiguous messages, silence and vague feedback can trigger intense emotional responses
- The visible and invisible signs of RSD at work
- Practical strategies at individual, team, leader and organisational level
What You'll Learn
Your Speakers
Dr Anthony Thompson
Chartered Psychologist & Organisational Psychology Researcher
Dr Anthony Thompson is a Chartered Psychologist and researcher whose work connects psychological theory with real-world practice. With a PhD in Organisational Psychology and extensive experience teaching and consulting in occupational & business psychology, he specialises in employee wellbeing, individual differences and the co-creation of healthy work practices. His research on co-creating workplace behaviour change offers fresh insights into how organisations can adapt to diverse cognitive, behavioural and social needs. Committed to making psychological science accessible, he presents, writes and speaks widely on topics such as the four-day working week, emotional intelligence, and inclusive workplace design.
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