What is RSD?
In this video, Vanessa Castañeda Gill explains what Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria is and why normalizing mistakes, using affirming language, and creating psychological safety is essential for participation in school and a students' overall self-esteem.
Transcript
When I was in seventh grade, I had an outburst and I spoke out of turn in class. I just remember that I had this need to get some kind of energy out, and for me, that was in the form of sound, and I know it was because I was super overwhelmed and uncomfortable, and I remember that my teacher turned to me and in front of the whole class said, "Who do you think you are?"
And at that moment, I decided, hey, I am not ever going to raise my hand or speak up in class again because I am terrified of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time and getting that reaction. And so from seventh grade all the way through college, I refused to raise my hand or speak up in class.
Uh, and later on I figured out, you know, I was autistic in ADHD. I also figured out that I was experiencing RSD or Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, which is a state of dysregulation that can cause some pretty serious emotional harm, um, and low self-esteem over time, especially in reaction to perceived failures or negative social interactions.
And it's really important for educators to look out for these signs that are popping up in their students because all of this, over time, any negative criticisms, any perceived failures can start to add up into not only low self-esteem, but also students not trying anymore, and being afraid to participate because of that fear of failure.
So I would say that for educators, the number one most important thing you can do is to talk about failures, talk about your own, talk about failures of people you and your students admire and make it normal. Uh, talk about learning about mistakes and how that learning is, uh, just a part of growth. I would also say that, you know, positive affirmations and reassurance and reassuring language with these students is super helpful so they don't start to feel that pain that's associated with RSD. If you want to learn more about including neurodivergent students and better supporting them, you should definitely check out all of our free resources at socialcipher.com.
Follow us @socialcipher on TikTok and YouTube for more educator-focused videos about neurodivergence!
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.jpg)
.png)
.png)
