What to Know About Autism and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria

For many autistic people, perceived rejection or failure can feel intensely emotionally painful, to the point that they struggle to cope with these feelings. This phenomenon is known as rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD). Not all autistic people experience RSD, but those who do may struggle due to these feelings.

Although RSD is not a clinical diagnosis, many autistic people struggle with these feelings. This article explores autistic people’s experiences of RSD, how autistic people cope with RSD, and ways to support an autistic person experiencing RSD.

The Connection Between Autism and RSD

Autism is a neurodevelopmental difference that manifests as atypical sensory perceptions, behaviors, and social styles. Currently, there is limited peer reviewed research about RSD and even less about its connection to autism.

Kate, who is autistic, shares: “I think that being autistic in a world set up for neurotypicals leads to an almost constant sense of feeling like I’m doing everything wrong and second guessing so many of my interactions. This feeling coupled with some formative experiences of actual rejection have made me almost hyper-aware that people might not understand me and will reject me.” Essentially, autistic people are set up to experience rejection at a higher rate than non-autistic peers due to having to function in a world not designed for them.

In addition, Kate says that being autistic impacts her experience of rejection and criticism: “I tend to assume people are mad at me, upset with me, or I did something wrong if they: have short answers to my questions, take a while to reply, are quieter than usual, etc. I feel an intense sadness & insecurity. Also a sense of urgency like I have to fix whatever is wrong with what I did or who I am to make the sense of rejection go away.”

Increased rejection and punishment for not meeting neurotypical standards can cause autistic people to experience RSD.

In addition, autistic people often have different sensory and perceptual experiences than non-autistic peers, which can include more intense emotional experiences. As H, an autistic person, shared: “Being a strong empath, in combination to having to mask our autistic traits, definitely complicates things.” Autistic people with strong emotional sensitivity experience social and interpersonal rejection stronger than non-autistic people, which can increase rejection sensitivity.

Complications of RSD for Autistic People

Most people do not enjoy being rejected or criticized. However, RSD goes beyond simply disliking rejection. RSD is intensely emotional and can even be physically painful. A desire to avoid this pain and discomfort can lead to increased masking behaviors, putting the autistic person at higher risk for burnout.

Kate shares that their experience of RSD as an autistic person causes them to be “very observant of patterns, and so when someone’s behavioral pattern is different, I notice it and often feel a sense of guilt about it, like I must have done something for them to feel upset and that’s why their behavior has changed.” This increased hypervigilance, over time, can be traumatic for the autistic person.

Diagnosing Autism and RSD

RSD is not part of the diagnostic criteria for autism in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This means that you do not have to experience RSD to be autistic (and many people who experience RSD are not autistic).

If you are autistic and you struggle with rejection or criticism, you might be experiencing RSD. If you find that you cannot “move past” perceived rejection the way that others do, RSD might explain these feelings. A therapist might also notice patterns in your emotional responses that are consistent with RSD.

How to Support Autistic People Dealing With RSD

When it comes to living with RSD for autistic people, education and shared experience is key. Kate shares: “Learning more about RSD, autism, and my other lived experiences have helped me feel more empowered in how I can work with my brain.” Support from loved ones has helped them “to more openly communicate my feelings, thoughts, and needs with others so they have the opportunity to actually be supportive of me.”

Being able to live authentically is essential for autistic people as well. H shared that they benefit from finding space to be “very relaxed and try to unmask as much as possible.” Being accepted as one’s authentic self can reduce the need for masking and reduce sensitivity to rejection.

How Autistic People Can Cope With RSD

As described above, feelings of rejection can be particularly intense for autistic people. Autistic people can benefit from community support to connect with people with similar experiences and understand themselves better. Having safe, trustworthy social support can help with both education and coping with RSD.

For Kate, having a patient partner is beneficial: “They communicate with me about things in their day that may have upset them or might explain why they’re quieter today.” In addition, their friends will let them know if they are busy and may take longer than usual to answer messages. Kate says, “It’s really helpful to know both that she’s not upset with me and that she’s safe. I think overall: communication, reassurance, and patience are the ways people can be supportive of me.”

Therapy can also help with anxiety and emotional dysregulation that can come from rejection sensitivity and RSD. Finding a therapist who specializes in autistic experiences can help you learn skills to cope with your experiences and improve your overall well-being.