Paris Hilton has candidly shared her experiences with ADHD and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD).
ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder often marked by problems with concentration and impulsive behavior. However, ADHD encompasses a variety of conditions, including rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD), which can lead to emotional instability and mental health challenges.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about 15.5 million adults and approximately seven million children between the ages of three and 17 in the United States have been diagnosed with ADHD.
Paris, who was diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood, displayed evident symptoms during her childhood. She shared her difficulties during school: “School… was so difficult for me. I would study, I could never remember anything. I was always failing my tests. I was just always in detention, getting in trouble,” Paris told Lauryn and Michael Bosstick on The Skinny Confidential podcast.
The Simple Life star described how both ADHD and RSD made her life ‘extremely painful’.
Rejection sensitive dysphoria is a condition that affects how a person emotionally reacts to rejection or their perception of it. While everyone may feel upset over rejection, RSD increases the intensity of these feelings, leading to what the Cleveland Clinic describes as ‘intense emotional pain’.
Unlike neurotypical individuals who might eventually move past rejection, those with RSD could face severe mental health effects, avoiding situations such as starting new projects or relationships to elude the intense feelings tied to rejection.
Paris likened RSD to ‘a demon in your mind’, constantly feeding you ‘negative self-talk’. She shared, “I’ve been through so many things in my life, and especially in the 2000s, just everything I was going through with the media and suffering from this RSD with ADHD, it was like so, so extremely painful.”
While not officially recognized as a medical condition, RSD often accompanies ADHD and other mood and personality disorders, potentially increasing the risk of self-harm and suicide, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Discussing RSD, Paris explained: “You feel things on such a deep level, and it’s so painful. [With] anything negative it’s very difficult sometimes… but now I know it’s not real. It’s just the RSD kicking in. So, there’s so much to learn.”
RSD’s primary symptom is intense emotional pain, although other symptoms may vary among individuals. Harley Street Mental Health states that for those with ADHD, RSD is part of emotional dysregulation, with neurodivergent individuals often struggling to manage their emotions daily.
ADHD can lead to intense emotional responses, mood swings, and impulsive reactions. With RSD, neutral comments might be misinterpreted as rejection, leading to misunderstandings and emotional turmoil, as explained by Harley Street.
RSD can be addressed through therapy and, if tied to ADHD or a similar condition, medication. The Cleveland Clinic emphasizes that lowering daily stress, allowing yourself downtime, and practicing self-compassion can also be beneficial.
Individuals experiencing RSD may need to be evaluated for ADHD by a specialist or be assessed for other conditions to receive appropriate medication.
Paris expressed the importance of ‘reframing’ her ADHD experience, noting that in some scenarios, it has been her ‘superpower.’ “I wouldn’t be the entrepreneur I am today without it. It gives me like this drive and [with] always being in the future,” she said, adding her commitment to spreading awareness so people understand ‘it doesn’t have to be something that holds them back in life.’
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 to reach a 24-hour crisis center or you can webchat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.