EMDR for Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) isn’t just about feeling hurt by criticism—it’s an intense, overwhelming emotional reaction to real or perceived rejection, criticism, or failure. It can feel like a full body shockwave, leaving you flooded with shame, anxiety, or even rage. It is a deeply painful, automatic response that can shape self-worth, relationships, and life choices.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is best known for treating trauma, but it can also help with the emotional pain and self-beliefs that come with RSD.
How Does EMDR Help with RSD?
RSD often has deep roots—whether in childhood experiences of being misunderstood, criticised, or left out, or in repeated moments where rejection felt unbearable. Even if these moments weren’t big traumas, they can still leave an imprint on the brain, creating a heightened sensitivity to rejection and a nervous system that reacts as if it’s in danger.
EMDR helps by:
Reprocessing painful memories – If past experiences of rejection are stuck in the nervous system, EMDR can help the brain process them so they don’t feel as raw or overwhelming.
Changing deep-seated beliefs – Many people with RSD carry beliefs like “I’m not good enough,” “People don’t like me,” or “I always mess things up.” EMDR helps to update these negative beliefs and strengthen more balanced ones.
Reducing the emotional intensity of rejection – Instead of a tidal wave of shame or panic, EMDR can help rejection feel more manageable, so it no longer feels like an all-consuming emotional storm.
Strengthening resilience – EMDR isn’t just about healing the past; it also builds emotional regulation tools to handle future experiences of rejection without spiraling into distress.
What does EMDR for RSD look like?
EMDR follows a structured approach, but when working with RSD, sessions might include:
Identifying painful rejection memories – Looking at key moments that shaped your sensitivity to rejection, whether that’s childhood bullying, parental criticism, or a breakup that left a lasting wound.
Exploring core self-beliefs –Identifying patterns of beliefs like “I’m unlovable” or “I’m always a disappointment” and helping the brain detach from these narratives.
Reprocessing emotional overwhelm – Using bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or sounds) to help the brain process rejection memories so they lose their emotional intensity.
Building emotional safety – Strengthening self-worth, resilience, and self-compassion so future rejections don’t hit as hard.
Is EMDR Right for You?
If RSD is impacting your relationships, career, or self-esteem, EMDR can help break the cycle of emotional overwhelm and self-doubt. It’s not about making you “less sensitive” but rather about helping you feel safer, steadier, and more in control when rejection shows up.
For many of us who are neurodivergent, rejection sensitivity is a part of our day to day lives, and whilst we may continue to be triggered, we don’t have to continue living but reliving the pain of past rejection. EMDR offers a way to heal old wounds so we are responding to the situation in the present, rather than responding to the situation *and* the millions of cuts from past rejections.
Check out FAQ's about EMDR here:
Individual therapy (inc. EMDR): £95 per session