482: Hormones, Anxiety, Rejection Sensitivity: Root Cause + What Actually Helps with Dr. Sasha Hamdani

About this episode

Dr. Sasha Hamdani is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in ADHD, rejection sensitivity and emotional regulation, and the author of the new book Too Sensitive: Rejection, Resilience, and the Science of Feeling Deeply. She also happens to have ADHD herself, giving her the perspective of both doctor and patient. In this episode, Sasha and I get into a question that feels impossible to avoid right now: does everyone have ADHD—or have we just gotten better at recognizing it? We talk about what ADHD actually looks like beyond the stereotypes, why women are so often diagnosed later in life, and how to tell the difference between normal distraction, stress and anxiety versus something clinical. We also get into hormones and ADHD, why symptoms can change throughout a woman’s life, non-stimulant medication options, and the lifestyle changes that can actually help with focus and energy. Then we get into the part of this conversation I found especially fascinating: rejection sensitivity and feeling everything so intensely. Sasha explains why a text, a change in someone’s tone or perceived criticism can send some of us into a complete spiral—and how to stop burning so much ene