🧠 ADHD, RSD & Imposter Syndrome: How to Break the Cycle of Self-Doubt
Have you ever felt like a fraud — even when you’re achieving big things? Do you find yourself avoiding new goals because you’re afraid of being rejected, judged, or “found out”? You’re not alone — especially if you’re living with ADHD.
In this episode of ADHD Support Talk Radio, Tara McGillicuddy is joined by ADHD coach and TEDx speaker Jamie Cutino for a powerful conversation about:
💥 Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)
😰 Imposter Syndrome
🧩 And why both hit harder when you have ADHD
🎧 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ What RSD is — and how it hijacks your emotions
✔️ Why ADHD makes imposter syndrome more intense
✔️ How both can stop you before you even get started
✔️ The connection between people-pleasing, burnout, and boundaries
✔️ How to stop over-explaining and start protecting your energy
✔️ Real-world strategies to reduce emotional spirals and rebuild confidence
Whether you’re struggling to launch your business, speak up at work, or trust your own value, this episode is packed with empowering insights and tools to help you reclaim your voice and take action — even when fear tries to stop you.
👩🏫 About Jamie Cutino
Jamie Cutino is an ADHD coach, TEDx speaker, and the founder of Outsmart ADHD, a coaching and content platform designed to help adults with ADHD move from overwhelm and self-doubt into clarity, action, and success.
With a reputation for blending real-world insights with practical strategies, Jamie brings an honest, relatable voice to the ADHD conversation — one rooted in both lived experience and professional training.
🎙️ Jamie is the host of the Outsmart ADHD Podcast
🗣️ She has delivered two TEDx talks on emotional health and self-worth
🧩 She specializes in helping adults manage:
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Emotional dysregulation
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Executive dysfunction
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Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)
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Imposter Syndrome
Jamie speaks at virtual summits, podcasts, and professional events, sharing tools to shift from “What’s wrong with me?” to “What’s next for me?”
She believes ADHD doesn’t have to be a roadblock — and that self-awareness, aligned boundaries, and compassionate action are key to creating meaningful progress.
🌐 Learn more: https://www.outsmartadhd.co
⏰ Episode Timestamps
🕒 00:00 – Intro & Guest Welcome
🧠 01:00 – What is Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)?
🤔 03:15 – Understanding Imposter Syndrome
🔁 05:30 – Why ADHDers experience both more often
📖 07:00 – Personal stories from Tara and Jamie
💼 08:55 – How RSD shows up in business and relationships
🧰 10:50 – Practical strategies to reduce the impact
🚧 13:20 – Boundaries, burnout, and over-explaining
💬 16:00 – ADHD and the need for external validation
💡 18:00 – Final thoughts + how to get support
🔗 Links & Resources
🌐 TaraMcGillicuddy.com – Upcoming events + coaching
🎓 ADDclasses.com – Free ADHD webinars and support
🎧 ADHD Support Talk Radio – More episodes
📺 ADHD Support Talk on YouTube
👤 Guest Website: https://www.outsmartadhd.co
Tara McGillicuddy is described by those who know her – clients, fellow leaders, and community – as dedicated to the deep, soulful
energetic-level shifts required by life. Whether she’s helping to SEE your life more clearly, identify where you’re stuck, tuning into sacred energies OR she’s helping to build a practical life with tools, structure, physical help and precise action steps, she is committed to giving everything she knows to help you live your best life and to feel fulfilled by it.
Tara has been known and celebrated in the ADHD community for decades of practical and long-lasting shifts in tens of thousands in her communities. The creator of ADDClasses.com, The ADHD Awareness Expo and ADHD Support Talk Radio Tara is one of the longest-standing leaders in the field. Over the years she has also honed her natural skills as an empath. She now also combines the rare gift of sight and energetic knowing and her latest project is Empath Now a resource to help Empower Empaths.
ADHD Support Talk Radio is an award winning Podcast for Adults with ADD / ADHD. Co-hosts Tara McGillicuddy and Lynne Edris are joined by Adult ADHD experts and they cover important topics related to Adult ADD / ADHD. Podcast guests include Dr. Edward Hallowell, Dr. Stephanie Sarkis, Dr. Ari Tuckman, Laurie Dupar, Terry Matlen and many more.
Tara McGillicuddy is the Producer, Owner and Co-host of the ADHD Support Talk Radio Podcast. You may contact Tara with general questions or feedback about the podcast.
Lynne Edris is the Co-host of the ADHD Support Talk Radio Podcast. You may contact Lynne with feedback about her episodes.