10/22/2025
Many people with ADHD live with Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) — an intense emotional pain triggered by perceived criticism, rejection, or failure. Studies suggest 70–99% of adults with ADHD experience RSD in some form.
For women, this is often misunderstood. Emotional sensitivity, mood swings, or fear of abandonment linked to ADHD + RSD can resemble symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). And because BPD is far more frequently diagnosed in women than men, ADHD in women is sometimes overlooked while BPD is applied instead.
This pattern has been called a form of sexist misdiagnosis: emotional struggles in women are often framed as a “personality flaw” rather than understood through the lens of ADHD and brain wiring.
The impact? Women spend years questioning themselves, feeling stigmatized, and missing out on ADHD-informed treatment and support that could actually help.
Recognizing RSD and ADHD in women isn’t just about accuracy — it’s about equity, compassion, and giving women the tools to thrive.