Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) Collection

Part 1 - An Introduction

This part offers an introduction to this area, including what is RSD. While there is not a formal diagnosis, this section describes how RSD is real and challenging. Readers will understand key characteristics of RSD and how common it is in the Autistic population.

Part 2 - Understanding RSD Triggers

This section will explore RSD triggers. It explains the factors that cause this experience, and how it uniquely affects Autistic individuals. Readers will also learn about real-life impacts of RSD on relationships, work, and mental health.

Part 3 - Autism, RSD and Mental Health

The interaction of autism, RSD and mental health is discussed. Also, important considerations and experiences are described such as RSD and trauma, social pain and physical pain.

Part 4 - Impact on Daily Life

This part addresses how RSD may impact daily life, including the integration of RSD with autism in areas such as school, friendships, the workplace and intimate relationships.

Part 5 - Managing RSD

This part addresses therapy approaches and medications that may be helpful. How loved ones and others such as teachers can help, is described.

Recognizing Signs of Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)

Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) is a common co-occurring experience for Autistic people that describes the intense emotional pain felt when they perceive they have been rejected or criticized.

Emotional Regulation and Dysregulation in Autism: Considerations in Adulthood

Emotional regulation refers to how people recognize and monitor what they are thinking and how they are feeling. This review offers ideas for understanding and supporting emotional regulation. Information and resources are offered.

Treating Mental Health Conditions in Autistic Individuals: A Toolkit for Understanding Approaches to Mental Health Care

Autistic individuals are more likely to experience mental health challenges than the general population, yet there are few studies that focus on the best mental health approaches for those on the autism spectrum. This toolkit provides background on mental health treatments that are backed by research. The toolkit also provides helpful summaries and reflection questions to help you decide which mental health approach(es) to pursue.

An Introductory Overview of Some Mental Health Challenges and their ‘Co-Occurrence’ with Autism

This overview identifies selected examples of mental health challenges that may co-exist with autism, including prevalence rates. We address some key considerations related to assessment and support for autistic individuals with co-existing mental health conditions. This review includes reflection about these co-existing conditions by Dr. Ade Orimalade, a psychiatrist specializing in autism and mental health.

Alexithymia & Autism: When you don’t know what emotion(s) you are feeling

Alexithymia, or the "lack of words for emotions", impacts up to half of all Autistic people. People with Alexithymia tend to have challenges with identifying and describing their feelings, recognizing bodily sensations, and a thinking style that focuses on external experiences rather than internal sensations and emotions. This toolkit describes the latest research on how alexithymia intersects with autism, interoception, and mental health. The toolkit also provides evidence-informed resources people can try if they want to reduce the impact of alexithymia on their day-to-day life.

Co-occurring Mental Health Conditions and ASD

This presentation discusses mental health conditions that often accompany autism. Autistic individuals are at risk for developing and/or being misdiagnosed as having a variety of mental health challenges that include anxiety, AD/HD, OCD, depression, personality disorders, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Clinical presentations of these co-occurring conditions will be outlined during this webinar. We will also discuss how they may present in individuals with autism, finishing with support options/suggestions.

Promoting Better Mental Health: Animated Video

Anxiety and Depression are the two most common mental health conditions for people with developmental disabilities. This short animated video walks viewers through two popular, evidence-based practices that can help us feel better when we are struggling. The script was written, developed, and narrated by Dr. Fakhri Shafai of AIDE Canada.

Discovering Your Autistic Identity: A self-directed course for late-diagnosed autistic adults

Discovering Your Autistic Identity is a self-directed course for late-diagnosed autistic adults. This course will include topics such as autism and identity in adulthood, reflecting on childhood, rediscovering and embracing your true self, and moving forward. This course was proudly created by a self-advocate who was diagnosed as autistic in adulthood.

Adult Diagnosis Collection

Diagnosing autism in adults can be a complex and nuanced process, typically involving a comprehensive assessment by a team of healthcare professionals, including psychologists, psychiatrists, and speech therapists. It is crucial to recognize that autism presents differently in adults, with some individuals exhibiting milder symptoms or unique strengths and challenges. Diagnosis can open doors to tailored support and therapies that can significantly improve an adult's quality of life and help them navigate the complexities of the neurotypical world. Here are some resources to help.

Becoming More Trauma Informed Collection

Being trauma-informed is about acknowledging the need to understand a person’s life experiences in order to deliver effective services. With this approach, service providers can improve engagement, health outcomes, and wellness for their community. This collection of resources can assist service providers and individuals to develop an approach that improves understanding, and helps to recognize, and respond to the effects of all types of trauma.

Healthy Relationships and Sexuality Collection

AIDE Canada and partners have collaborated to bring you a collection introducing healthy relationships, and what it takes to create them. We discuss everything from setting boundaries and healthy communication to pronouns and gender diversity in a Neurodiverse world.

Friendship Collection

AIDE and our trusted partners have curated a collection of resources about friendship to support the journey of autistic and neurodivergent people — at any stage of life.

Burnout Collection

To survive and thrive, we often need to be able to conform to expectations, rules, and schedules that work for some but not for others. AIDE Canada and partners have created resources covering everything from masking to prevention and recovery strategies.

Grief and Loss Collection

This collection shares how Autistic people experience grief, offering personal insights and practical, neurodiversity-affirming support. With reflections from Autistic contributors and strategies for self-advocates and their supporters, it provides tools for understanding, coping with, and moving through loss.

AIDE Canada Library offers a large collection of print and digital (eBook and audiobook) resources. For each of the resources below, we have included links to all available formats.

If you would like to borrow a print copy of one of these books, you can order it through our free Canada-wide borrow-by-mail service. eBooks and audiobooks can be borrowed online – just sign into our overdrive website or the Libby reading app using your AIDE Canada Library username and password. Visit the Library website to learn more. Questions? Email us at library@aidecanada.ca .