Maverick Joyce, MSW | RSD Coach and Transformative Social Work
@ageofaqueerius.bsky.social
Finding the authentic Self is deeply connected to collective liberation.
Register for a mini-course about RSD and Unlock Your Inner Genius: https://www.intensiveswithmaverick.com/mini-course
✨Non-binary AuDHD They/them✨
Register for a mini-course about RSD and Unlock Your Inner Genius: https://www.intensiveswithmaverick.com/mini-course
✨Non-binary AuDHD They/them✨
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This post is to establish my learning lineage, and encourage anyone who resonates with what I share, to also check out these amasing people and their works: Dr. Patricia Hill Collins, Dra. Gloria Anzaldua, Dr. Larissa Behrendt, Dr. Ayesha Khan, Audre Lorde, Laurie Rivers
From an ancestral perspective, assimilation wounds are one of the deepest roots of Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria. I mean this in both a biologically inherited way and a spiritual way. /1
December 11, 2025 at 12:40 AM
From an ancestral perspective, assimilation wounds are one of the deepest roots of Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria. I mean this in both a biologically inherited way and a spiritual way. /1
Every healer has their own unique medicine. Here’s mine. (And here’s why traditional therapy and nervous system tools often fall short for RSD) /1
December 9, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Every healer has their own unique medicine. Here’s mine. (And here’s why traditional therapy and nervous system tools often fall short for RSD) /1
Many people believe that RSD (Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria) is just something you have to live with – a life sentence. /1
December 8, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Many people believe that RSD (Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria) is just something you have to live with – a life sentence. /1
When you experience Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, masking isn’t a choice — it becomes a strategy for survival. Let’s dive in. /1
December 8, 2025 at 3:14 PM
When you experience Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, masking isn’t a choice — it becomes a strategy for survival. Let’s dive in. /1
Safety isn’t the absence of harm. It is the existence of presence when things go sideways.
Harm is unavoidable. Humans learn through mistakes. /1
Harm is unavoidable. Humans learn through mistakes. /1
December 2, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Safety isn’t the absence of harm. It is the existence of presence when things go sideways.
Harm is unavoidable. Humans learn through mistakes. /1
Harm is unavoidable. Humans learn through mistakes. /1
Why I teach nervous system attunement (instead of regulation) to support the healing process for RSD /1
November 30, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Why I teach nervous system attunement (instead of regulation) to support the healing process for RSD /1
Your sensitivity was never the problem. (In fact, it's actually the solution.) You were never too much, too sensitive, or too dramatic. The culture was the problem – it was designed to enforce compliance, suppress difference, and maintain power for the 1%. /1
November 25, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Your sensitivity was never the problem. (In fact, it's actually the solution.) You were never too much, too sensitive, or too dramatic. The culture was the problem – it was designed to enforce compliance, suppress difference, and maintain power for the 1%. /1
Why do tone shifts feel like rejection? (and what does this have to do with perfectionism?) /1
November 25, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Why do tone shifts feel like rejection? (and what does this have to do with perfectionism?) /1
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November 24, 2025 at 3:57 PM
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Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria is not a personal flaw. It’s a predictable outcome of the oppressive paradigms that shape our lives. Which leads me to this…
understanding how power is organised and operates is a crucial part of any healing journey. /1
understanding how power is organised and operates is a crucial part of any healing journey. /1
November 17, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria is not a personal flaw. It’s a predictable outcome of the oppressive paradigms that shape our lives. Which leads me to this…
understanding how power is organised and operates is a crucial part of any healing journey. /1
understanding how power is organised and operates is a crucial part of any healing journey. /1
Normality was socially constructed and is connected to rejection sensitive dysphoria. It is the invisible force that destroys self-trust and self-worth in childhood. /1
November 17, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Normality was socially constructed and is connected to rejection sensitive dysphoria. It is the invisible force that destroys self-trust and self-worth in childhood. /1
Self-expression can feel dangerous when you have rejection sensitive dysphoria. Expressing yourself is often accompanied by shame. In the body, shame can show up many different ways... /1
November 17, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Self-expression can feel dangerous when you have rejection sensitive dysphoria. Expressing yourself is often accompanied by shame. In the body, shame can show up many different ways... /1
Autistic and ADHD children live in constant cultural mismatch – not just at school, but often within their very family system. They often grow up being denied their internal reality, with the world sending the message that their external reality is more important than their internal one /1
November 10, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Autistic and ADHD children live in constant cultural mismatch – not just at school, but often within their very family system. They often grow up being denied their internal reality, with the world sending the message that their external reality is more important than their internal one /1
1. ✨💗Cultural matching is an essential part of identity safety. ✨💗
(Listen at the 40-minute mark on All My Relations podcast to hear Dr. Stephanie Fryberg explain more about this concept: www.allmyrelationspodcast.com/podcast/epis...) /1
(Listen at the 40-minute mark on All My Relations podcast to hear Dr. Stephanie Fryberg explain more about this concept: www.allmyrelationspodcast.com/podcast/epis...) /1
Native Mascots: Really, Still? — All My Relations
In 2018 there are still over 2000 schools and professional sports teams with Native mascots, despite decades of activism and academic research demonstrating the harms of these images.
www.allmyrelationspodcast.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:51 PM
1. ✨💗Cultural matching is an essential part of identity safety. ✨💗
(Listen at the 40-minute mark on All My Relations podcast to hear Dr. Stephanie Fryberg explain more about this concept: www.allmyrelationspodcast.com/podcast/epis...) /1
(Listen at the 40-minute mark on All My Relations podcast to hear Dr. Stephanie Fryberg explain more about this concept: www.allmyrelationspodcast.com/podcast/epis...) /1
So often the mental experience is centered and focused upon at the expense of the somatic (body) experience. In truth we have different bodies with different memories and experiences, and they all interface in the physical body. /1
November 3, 2025 at 4:25 PM
So often the mental experience is centered and focused upon at the expense of the somatic (body) experience. In truth we have different bodies with different memories and experiences, and they all interface in the physical body. /1
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria is a term that emerged from the experiences of ADHDers, to describe a phenomenon that many people experience. It’s a full-body, visceral response to any kind of perceived rejection or even threat of rejection. /1
November 3, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria is a term that emerged from the experiences of ADHDers, to describe a phenomenon that many people experience. It’s a full-body, visceral response to any kind of perceived rejection or even threat of rejection. /1
We need to talk about neuronormativity, because internalised neuronormativity is at the core of rejection sensitivity…and neuronormativity is this unquestioned, implicit existence of the ideal way a brain-body should function.
October 5, 2025 at 8:32 PM
We need to talk about neuronormativity, because internalised neuronormativity is at the core of rejection sensitivity…and neuronormativity is this unquestioned, implicit existence of the ideal way a brain-body should function.
We change the world thru the way we speak and relate to each other, and for me that means perspective-shifting and using as much open-ended and expansive language as i can find. These are qualities i believe every therapist should posses.
I would emphasise the Autistic experience of being misunderstood, not the societal perception of rigidity (ie., Autistics being controlling). When we speak about the ppl we work with, we are either reinforcing a narrative or challenging it.
And control might very well be a coping mechanism to deal with the trauma of chronic misunderstanding and being forced to mask. But framing of information, HOW we talk about information, is important.
July 20, 2025 at 12:22 AM
We change the world thru the way we speak and relate to each other, and for me that means perspective-shifting and using as much open-ended and expansive language as i can find. These are qualities i believe every therapist should posses.
I would emphasise the Autistic experience of being misunderstood, not the societal perception of rigidity (ie., Autistics being controlling). When we speak about the ppl we work with, we are either reinforcing a narrative or challenging it.
And control might very well be a coping mechanism to deal with the trauma of chronic misunderstanding and being forced to mask. But framing of information, HOW we talk about information, is important.
Ive had ppl come to me who had therapists who didnt recognise their masking trauma from ABA. Because the perception is that Autism is inhuman. When in reality, Autism is humanness emphasised. If it were symbolised by a word it would be HUMAN! <— THAT’S Autism to me. An emphasis of humanity.
July 20, 2025 at 12:19 AM
I would emphasise the Autistic experience of being misunderstood, not the societal perception of rigidity (ie., Autistics being controlling). When we speak about the ppl we work with, we are either reinforcing a narrative or challenging it.
And control might very well be a coping mechanism to deal with the trauma of chronic misunderstanding and being forced to mask. But framing of information, HOW we talk about information, is important.
Ive had ppl come to me who had therapists who didnt recognise their masking trauma from ABA. Because the perception is that Autism is inhuman. When in reality, Autism is humanness emphasised. If it were symbolised by a word it would be HUMAN! <— THAT’S Autism to me. An emphasis of humanity.
This is why Autistic therapists for Autistic ppl are so important. An allistic therapist just isn’t going to pick up on that. They often see Autism as a disorder, not the inhumane world we live in. How the therapist PERCEIVES the person and their experience affects interventions chosen and outcomes
July 20, 2025 at 12:17 AM
And control might very well be a coping mechanism to deal with the trauma of chronic misunderstanding and being forced to mask. But framing of information, HOW we talk about information, is important.
Ive had ppl come to me who had therapists who didnt recognise their masking trauma from ABA. Because the perception is that Autism is inhuman. When in reality, Autism is humanness emphasised. If it were symbolised by a word it would be HUMAN! <— THAT’S Autism to me. An emphasis of humanity.
This is why Autistic therapists for Autistic ppl are so important. An allistic therapist just isn’t going to pick up on that. They often see Autism as a disorder, not the inhumane world we live in. How the therapist PERCEIVES the person and their experience affects interventions chosen and outcomes
It’s actually the intersection of the Autistic brain-body and experiencing trauma. When the world moves too quickly for your nervous system and is actually organised in a way that is harmful to you, others will look at you as controlling when really you are trying to be understood.
July 20, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Ive had ppl come to me who had therapists who didnt recognise their masking trauma from ABA. Because the perception is that Autism is inhuman. When in reality, Autism is humanness emphasised. If it were symbolised by a word it would be HUMAN! <— THAT’S Autism to me. An emphasis of humanity.
This is why Autistic therapists for Autistic ppl are so important. An allistic therapist just isn’t going to pick up on that. They often see Autism as a disorder, not the inhumane world we live in. How the therapist PERCEIVES the person and their experience affects interventions chosen and outcomes
It’s actually the intersection of the Autistic brain-body and experiencing trauma. When the world moves too quickly for your nervous system and is actually organised in a way that is harmful to you, others will look at you as controlling when really you are trying to be understood.
It is so fascinating how allistics interpret the Autistic experience. I heard a perception of Autists wanting to be in control, but actually, what we are experiencing is being misunderstood. In every atom of our being. On every level. What allistics ascribe to being Autistic, is ACTUALLY trauma.
July 20, 2025 at 12:07 AM
This is why Autistic therapists for Autistic ppl are so important. An allistic therapist just isn’t going to pick up on that. They often see Autism as a disorder, not the inhumane world we live in. How the therapist PERCEIVES the person and their experience affects interventions chosen and outcomes
It’s actually the intersection of the Autistic brain-body and experiencing trauma. When the world moves too quickly for your nervous system and is actually organised in a way that is harmful to you, others will look at you as controlling when really you are trying to be understood.
It is so fascinating how allistics interpret the Autistic experience. I heard a perception of Autists wanting to be in control, but actually, what we are experiencing is being misunderstood. In every atom of our being. On every level. What allistics ascribe to being Autistic, is ACTUALLY trauma.
July 20, 2025 at 12:03 AM
It’s actually the intersection of the Autistic brain-body and experiencing trauma. When the world moves too quickly for your nervous system and is actually organised in a way that is harmful to you, others will look at you as controlling when really you are trying to be understood.
It is so fascinating how allistics interpret the Autistic experience. I heard a perception of Autists wanting to be in control, but actually, what we are experiencing is being misunderstood. In every atom of our being. On every level. What allistics ascribe to being Autistic, is ACTUALLY trauma.
July 19, 2025 at 11:59 PM
It is so fascinating how allistics interpret the Autistic experience. I heard a perception of Autists wanting to be in control, but actually, what we are experiencing is being misunderstood. In every atom of our being. On every level. What allistics ascribe to being Autistic, is ACTUALLY trauma.
Reposted by Maverick Joyce, MSW | RSD Coach and Transformative Social Work
It seems we reached 3.5% of the American population protesting yesterday.
What if we could get those 11 million people…
➡️ Involved in building community resilience and the infrastructure to strike - mutual aid networks, community meals and gardens, tenant unions, childcare networks, resource hubs?
What if we could get those 11 million people…
➡️ Involved in building community resilience and the infrastructure to strike - mutual aid networks, community meals and gardens, tenant unions, childcare networks, resource hubs?
June 15, 2025 at 11:18 PM
It seems we reached 3.5% of the American population protesting yesterday.
What if we could get those 11 million people…
➡️ Involved in building community resilience and the infrastructure to strike - mutual aid networks, community meals and gardens, tenant unions, childcare networks, resource hubs?
What if we could get those 11 million people…
➡️ Involved in building community resilience and the infrastructure to strike - mutual aid networks, community meals and gardens, tenant unions, childcare networks, resource hubs?