Fear of rejection with ADHD runs deep (Matthew’s story)

Matthew Raghunauth always felt like he was a little lazy and sluggish — that’s just how he was. Then the time came to return to office after the pandemic, and he really started struggling at work. He questioned why he would put things off so much. He was scared to mess up, and afraid that his colleagues would think he’s a bad employee. 

Matthew is an artist and UX designer who was diagnosed with ADHD about a year and a half ago. Join Laura and Matthew as they talk about this ADHD fear of being “found out,” and a grown-up view of growing up.

Related resources

• ADHD and rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD)
• Imposter syndrome at work: How I stopped feeling like a fake
• Not lazy, but exhausted from analysis paralysis (Emily’s story)

Timestamps

(01:25) Why did Matthew seek out an ADHD evaluation?

(05:59) ADHD and prioritization overload

(07:23) Anxiety and fixations while growing up

(10:10) Putting off things out of fear of failing and being rejected

(12:34) ADHD and catastrophizing

(15:32) Are we really “too sensitive”?

(16:38) When “growing up” means taking care of yourself

(21:20) The added pressure of being first generation American

 

To get a transcript of this show and check out more episodes, visit the ADHD Aha! podcast page at Understood.

Want to share your “aha” moment? We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at [email protected].

As kids head back to school, it's a good time to remember: not every student experiences the classroom the same way. Through My Eyes, a free interactive experience from Understood, lets you step into a day in the life of a kid with ADHD, dyslexia, or dyscalculia. See their strengths and challenges in a whole new way. Try it out here.

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