Rejection Sensitivity & Emotional Resilience with Dr. Sasha Hamdani
Aug 26, 2026 · 43m
Summary
Hosts Hari Kundobolu and Dr. Priyanka Wali interview psychiatrist Dr. Sasha Hamdani about her book on rejection sensitivity and emotional depth. They explore the neurobiology of feeling emotions intensely, its link to ADHD, and how to build resilience without losing empathy. Dr. Hamdani shares personal stories, coping strategies like "emailing" conflicts, and emphasizes that sensitivity is a gift requiring management, not a flaw to be cured.
Topics discussed
Intro and podcast sponsorships
Guest intro: Dr. Sasha Hamdani and her book
Dr. Hamdani's journey from pediatrics to psychiatry
Defining Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)
Neurobiology and evolutionary roots of sensitivity
Trauma, genetics, and anxiety in emotional sensitivity
Clinical presentation and need for specialized care
The overlap between ADHD and Rejection Sensitivity
Sponsor breaks and ad reads
Sensitivity vs. Emotional Intelligence and hormonal impacts
Understanding your place on the sensitivity spectrum
Coping strategies for ghosting and social interactions
Navigating conflict in relationships with a sensitive partner
Social media boundaries and more sponsorships
RSD in communities of color and underdiagnosis
How discrimination amplifies rejection sensitivity
Strengths of highly sensitive people and physical symptoms
Ideal professions and testosterone's role in sensitivity
DSM updates and treating underlying ADHD
Exercise, resilience, and final advice for listeners
Outro and final sponsor messages
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