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
Reflections From the Session
A really thought-provoking lunchtime webinar today, delivered by Dr Anthony Thompson at Lexxic, exploring Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) and ADHD in the workplace.
I could really relate to a lot of what was discussed. It made me think about how something as simple as 'can we have a chat?' or a bit of feedback can affect people so differently, and how we don't always realise what's going on behind the scenes for someone else.
Covered were some really simple strategies that can make a difference to how we communicate, provide feedback and support colleagues.
It also made me reflect on my own communication style. I'm the first to admit that I sometimes rush messages, particularly when I'm busy, without always stopping to think about how they might be received.
My biggest takeaway? Communication works both ways. Being more aware of how others might interpret our words is just as important as understanding our own reactions.
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About This Webinar
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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