Is RSD getting in the way of business development?
RSD (rejection sensitivity dysphoria) is one of the most impairing parts of ADHD for 30% of adults with the condition.
RSD is part of the extreme emotional experiences that arise for people with ADHD. Having a deep emotional life and feeling intensely is common. The glass isn't half full for us, it's spilling over the top, just as much as the glass isn't just half full, it's completely empty. There's no halves with the ADHD mind.
This makes being in business that much harder when it comes to sales and marketing, because a 'no' can deeply affect a person with ADHD. We can easily interpet a 'no' as a personal rejection, directly connecting it to our selves and our intrinsic value. This can feel physically painful for a business owner with ADHD.
I want to offer a subtle but important distinction here that can make a world of difference, and that's the distinction between Valuable versus Helpful, especially if you suffer from RSD.
When you're on the receiving end of a 'no' or rejection, rather than darting straight to questioning your intrinsic “value” or worthiness in your job or business... get your mind off the track of whether you are valuable or worthy. Because:
- it can’t be proved
- it’s subjective, and
- the thought of being worthy or not will come and go throughout your life. Self doubt is an inevitable part of the human experience, and especially the ADHD human experience.
Instead, the better question is to ask yourself “is what am I offering/doing HELPFUL?” That can be qualified and quantified through real world data.
