{"id":557,"date":"2026-06-03T17:12:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T17:12:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pafnplayground.chrisn.ca\/?p=557"},"modified":"2026-06-03T17:12:03","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T17:12:03","slug":"rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-rsd-collection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pafnplayground.chrisn.ca\/?p=557","title":{"rendered":"Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) Collection"},"content":{"rendered":"

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AIDE Canada offers a growing collection of resources designed to support Autistic individuals, families, and professionals with compassion, clarity, and respect for neurodiversity. This collection explores Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) through accessible toolkits, videos, and learning materials that help deepen understanding, build emotional awareness, and support well-being in everyday life. Whether you are newly exploring your identity or expanding your knowledge, these resources are here to meet you where you are – with practical tools, affirming language, and a focus on strengths, resilience, and connection.\n<\/p>\n

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Contents:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\n Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) Toolkit Series<\/a>
\n Toolkits and Infographics<\/a>
\n Videos and Webinars<\/a>
\n Course<\/a>
\n Overviews<\/a>
\n Library Books<\/a>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\n Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) Toolkit Series
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\n <\/h2>\n

By Maxine Share, an Autistic writer, self-advocate, and the parent of four adult children including one who is Autistic. She also has four Autistic grandchildren. She has been helping families raising Autistic children for almost 30 years.<\/p>\n

Why might Autistic people be especially sensitive to rejection and judgment? This toolkit explores Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), a co-occurring experience where perceived rejection or criticism triggers intense emotional pain. It explains the emotional, behavioral, and cognitive symptoms of RSD, the factors that cause it, and how it uniquely affects Autistic individuals.<\/p>\n

Readers will also learn about the real-life impact of RSD on relationships, work, and mental health. While there is no quick fix, this toolkit outlines practical approaches and self-help strategies that can make a difference. Whether you experience RSD yourself or want to support someone who does, this resource provides validation, insight, and tools to navigate the challenges of living with RSD<\/p>\n

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\n Part 1 – An Introduction<\/a>
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\n This part offers an introduction to this area, including what is RSD. While there is not a formal diagnosis, this section describes how RSD is real and challenging. Readers will understand key characteristics of RSD and how common it is in the Autistic population.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Part 2 – Understanding RSD Triggers<\/a>
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\n This section will explore RSD triggers. It explains the factors that cause this experience, and how it uniquely affects Autistic individuals. Readers will also learn about real-life impacts of RSD on relationships, work, and mental health.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Part 3 – Autism, RSD and Mental Health<\/a>
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\n The interaction of autism, RSD and mental health is discussed. Also, important considerations and experiences are described such as RSD and trauma, social pain and physical pain.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Part 4 – Impact on Daily Life <\/a>
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\n This part addresses how RSD may impact daily life, including the integration of RSD with autism in areas such as school, friendships, the workplace and intimate relationships.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Part 5 – Managing RSD<\/a>
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\n This part addresses therapy approaches and medications that may be helpful. How loved ones and others such as teachers can help, is described.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Toolkits and Infographics
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\n Recognizing Signs of Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)<\/a>
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\n Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) is a common co-occurring experience for Autistic people that describes the intense emotional pain felt when they perceive they have been rejected or criticized.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Emotional Regulation and Dysregulation in Autism: Considerations in Adulthood<\/a>
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\n Emotional regulation refers to how people recognize and monitor what they are thinking and how they are feeling. This review offers ideas for understanding and supporting emotional regulation. Information and resources are offered.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Treating Mental Health Conditions in Autistic Individuals: A Toolkit for Understanding Approaches to Mental Health Care<\/a>
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\n Autistic individuals are more likely to experience mental health challenges than the general population, yet there are few studies that focus on the best mental health approaches for those on the autism spectrum. This toolkit provides background on mental health treatments that are backed by research. The toolkit also provides helpful summaries and reflection questions to help you decide which mental health approach(es) to pursue.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n An Introductory Overview of Some Mental Health Challenges and their \u2018Co-Occurrence\u2019 with Autism<\/a>
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\n This overview identifies selected examples of mental health challenges that may co-exist with autism, including prevalence rates. We address some key considerations related to assessment and support for autistic individuals with co-existing mental health conditions. This review includes reflection about these co-existing conditions by Dr. Ade Orimalade, a psychiatrist specializing in autism and mental health.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Alexithymia & Autism: When you don\u2019t know what emotion(s) you are feeling<\/a>
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\n Alexithymia, or the “lack of words for emotions”, impacts up to half of all Autistic people. People with Alexithymia tend to have challenges with identifying and describing their feelings, recognizing bodily sensations, and a thinking style that focuses on external experiences rather than internal sensations and emotions. This toolkit describes the latest research on how alexithymia intersects with autism, interoception, and mental health. The toolkit also provides evidence-informed resources people can try if they want to reduce the impact of alexithymia on their day-to-day life.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Back to Top<\/a>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\n Videos and Webinars
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\n Co-occurring Mental Health Conditions and ASD<\/a>
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\n This presentation discusses mental health conditions that often accompany autism. Autistic individuals are at risk for developing and\/or being misdiagnosed as having a variety of mental health challenges that include anxiety, AD\/HD, OCD, depression, personality disorders, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Clinical presentations of these co-occurring conditions will be outlined during this webinar. We will also discuss how they may present in individuals with autism, finishing with support options\/suggestions.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Promoting Better Mental Health: Animated Video<\/a>
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\n Anxiety and Depression are the two most common mental health conditions for people with developmental disabilities. This short animated video walks viewers through two popular, evidence-based practices that can help us feel better when we are struggling. The script was written, developed, and narrated by Dr. Fakhri Shafai of AIDE Canada.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Course
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\n Discovering Your Autistic Identity: A self-directed course for late-diagnosed autistic adults<\/a>
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\n Discovering Your Autistic Identity is a self-directed course for late-diagnosed autistic adults. This course will include topics such as autism and identity in adulthood, reflecting on childhood, rediscovering and embracing your true self, and moving forward. This course was proudly created by a self-advocate who was diagnosed as autistic in adulthood.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Back to Top<\/a>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\n Overviews
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\n Adult Diagnosis Collection<\/a>
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\n Diagnosing autism in adults can be a complex and nuanced process, typically involving a comprehensive assessment by a team of healthcare professionals, including psychologists, psychiatrists, and speech therapists. It is crucial to recognize that autism presents differently in adults, with some individuals exhibiting milder symptoms or unique strengths and challenges. Diagnosis can open doors to tailored support and therapies that can significantly improve an adult’s quality of life and help them navigate the complexities of the neurotypical world. Here are some resources to help.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Becoming More Trauma Informed Collection<\/a>
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\n Being trauma-informed is about acknowledging the need to understand a person\u2019s life experiences in order to deliver effective services. With this approach, service providers can improve engagement, health outcomes, and wellness for their community. This collection of resources can assist service providers and individuals to develop an approach that improves understanding, and helps to recognize, and respond to the effects of all types of trauma.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Healthy Relationships and Sexuality Collection<\/a>
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\n AIDE Canada and partners have collaborated to bring you a collection introducing healthy relationships, and what it takes to create them. We discuss everything from setting boundaries and healthy communication to pronouns and gender diversity in a Neurodiverse world.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Friendship Collection<\/a>
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\n AIDE and our trusted partners have curated a collection of resources about friendship to support the journey of autistic and neurodivergent people \u2014 at any stage of life.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Burnout Collection<\/a>
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\n To survive and thrive, we often need to be able to conform to expectations, rules, and schedules that work for some but not for others. AIDE Canada and partners have created resources covering everything from masking to prevention and recovery strategies.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Grief and Loss Collection<\/a>
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\n This collection shares how Autistic people experience grief, offering personal insights and practical, neurodiversity-affirming support. With reflections from Autistic contributors and strategies for self-advocates and their supporters, it provides tools for understanding, coping with, and moving through loss.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n From the Library
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\n AIDE Canada Library offers a large collection of print and digital (eBook and audiobook) resources. For each of the resources below, we have included links to all available formats.\n <\/p>\n

\n If you would like to borrow a print copy of one of these books, you can order it through our
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\n free Canada-wide borrow-by-mail service.
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\n eBooks and audiobooks can be borrowed online \u2013 just sign into our
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\n overdrive
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\n Libby
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\n Library website
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\n library@aidecanada.ca
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How to ADHD : an insider’s guide to working with your brain (not against it) <\/strong><\/h5>\n

By Jessica McCabe<\/p>\n