#09: What RSD Really Feels Like and How to Manage It with James Tanner

ADHD isn’t just distraction, it’s big emotions, shutdowns, spirals, and reactions that feel way bigger than the moment. In this episode, entrepreneur James Tanner, whose career spans tech, PR, sales, and political campaigns, opens up about living with ADHD, dyslexia, emotional paralysis, and lifelong rejection sensitivity despite being someone who can command any room. Together, we break down why ADHD brains process rejection so intensely, how conditioning and past experiences shape emotional responses, why confidence crumbles even when you’re highly capable, and what actually helps regulate an ADHD nervous system in the middle of a spiral. If you’ve ever wondered why tiny moments hit you so hard or why you can be brilliant on the outside but stuck on the inside, this conversation finally makes your ADHD wiring make sense. Chapters(00:00) Introduction (02:57) Fear of Phone Calls and Social Tasks(10:07) Emotional Dysregulation and RSD Explained(13:47) Consistency, Confidence, and ADHD Paralysis(17:40) Getting Out of an RSD Spiral(21:55) How ADHD Shows Up in Kids and Teens(27:46) Using ADHD Strengths in Real-World Situations(33:32) Fear, Imposter Syndrome, and Avoidance(38:40) Building Self-Trust and Managing ADHD Connect with James Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jtsmack/ Personal Website: https://jamestanner.us