09/02/2025
https://www.facebook.com/share/18QeGvYJZj/
OKAY. RANT WARNING: This is going to make some people angry, defensive. But enough is enough.
What happens when a description of behavior is elevated to a "syndrome" or even promoted as a "diagnosis"? Research shows that self-labels and the promotion of conditions as "permanent" do NOT help parents and children. It decreases esteem and promotes passivity. When kids and parents embrace a label, they actually do LESS to manage it. Doing less (or nothing) is the OPPOSITE of what kids that are struggling need to do. I see this frequently: get passive, feel hopeless, and watch depression creep right in.
Describing a PATTERN of behavior or emotional reaction is helpful; families can recognize it, predict it, and then learn/teach skills that are remarkably consistent. You can better understand yourself. But what I see is an embracing of ever-more specific labels, pseudo-diagnoses, and then a rallying around these labels in unhealthy ways. As if it's unique. Different. Support groups pop up. Coaches now embrace it as their "specialty."
This is a trendy field. I've been doing this for 35 years. I've seen this happen over and over and over.
For example, an article on Rejective Sensitive Dysphoria on parents.com starts like this: "If you’ve noticed that your child is exhibiting sudden emotional outbursts, crying, or even aggressive behavior when they feel rejected or criticized—often leading to social isolation—it’s possible that they are affected by Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)."
The article says that RSD is NOT a diagnosis, but really gets into the label. It then proceeds to describe well-known CBT strategies to address this RSD "condition," strategies that truly apply ACROSS THE BOARD to strong emotional reactions, rumination, stuck thinking, anxiety and of course rejection...nothing new to see here.
Sadly, the article that spends a good amount of space talking about solid strategies to help kids learn emotional management, and DOES say Rejective Sensitive Dysphoria is NOT a diagnosis, ends with the line: "If your child is diagnosed with RSD..."
Then concerned parents email me: "My child has social anxiety and we're working on it...but now I'm worried she might have undiagnosed RSD." Or another syndrome that's gaining traction on Facebook.
Listen, the struggle to manage emotions is big and real. But parents and children need big picture skills to help navigate, particularly if you have ADHD (or many other things, too, like OCD or social anxiety.) THE STRUGGLE IS REAL. A label disguising itself as some "new" diagnosis? Nope.