Have you ever texted a friend, waited for a reply, and felt like your entire world was crumbling when they didn't respond right away? Do you find yourself deeply affected by neutral comments or minor critiques? If so, you might be experiencing Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) - a powerful emotional response that can feel like overwhelming pain, shame or devastation after a real or pervceived rejection.

In this episode, we break down:

• What RSD is and why it feels so intense
• How to differentiate between real rejection and fear of rejection
• Practical tools to regulate your emotions and build resilience
• How to work with your sensitive nervous system, not against it
• Real-life strategies for handling rejection in relationships, work and daily interactions
• A powerful reframe that will help you embrace your sensitivity as a strength, not a flaw

Plus, you'll hear from Annie, a seasoned Nonviolent Communication practitioner, as she vulnerably shares her struggles with RSD - despite all her training - and how she's learning to navigate these deep emotional waves.

✨If you've ever felt "too sensitive" or struggled to bounce back from rejection, this episode is for you.

We discuss:

• 1:55 Opening thoughts
• 3:33 What is RSD?
• 9:50 How can I best deal with RSD?
• 15:09 How can I decrease my suffering and increase my capacity?
• 21:17 Anxious and Avoidant Attachment Styles
• 25:56 Closing thoughts

🔹 Resources and Links:

• Join our 8-week Deep Dive on Repair Work and Accountability (starts March 31st!). Use code PODCAST50 for $50 off!
• Take our free Listening Style Quiz to understand how you process conversations
• Watch more videos on my YouTube Channel
• Learn more at Yvetteerasmus.com

Please share with your family and friends!

Use PODCAST50 to get $50 off tuition for my Spring Deep Dive, The Art of Repair Work: From Regret to Resilience. Group starts on March 31st for 8 weeks, so register early to save your space.

For ongoing practice and deeper learning, join my monthly membership program. You will find a safe space for live discussions and a supportive community of like-minded, open-hearted humans.


Subscribe & Follow:
Stay updated on new episodes and resources by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts or visiting yvetteerasmus.com.

Thank you for listening!

Here are more ways to connect with me:

• Become a member of my online learning community
• Join my Spring Deep Dive: The Art of Repair Work
• Join our calls live
• Set up a private session
• Follow me on TikTok @dr.yvetteerasmus

When kids act out - whether it’s stealing, shutting down, pushing boundaries, or having emotional outbursts - how can we respond in ways that guide them toward growth rather than shame?

Today, we explore two powerful real-life situations:

1. A young10-year old boy who stole money from his mentor: What was driving his behavior, and how could adults respond in a way that fosters learning instead of punishment?
2. A seven-year-old struggling with his parents’ divorce: How can his mother support his overwhelming emotions without taking on his distress or trying to “fix” his sadness?

Through these stories, we unpack the difference between control and connection, how to set limits without losing warmth, and why holding space for kids’ emotions is the key to their long-term resilience.

Tune in as we explore -

• 2:24 Opening thoughts
• 3:21 I'm dealing with a child who stole money and could use some help with a conversation.
• 7:29 I don't like how I showed up and I want to bring something new to the conversation
• 22:13 How can I help my son cope with his new home?

Please share with your family and friends!

Use PODCAST50 to get $50 off tuition for my Spring Deep Dive, The Art of Repair Work: From Regret to Resilience. Group starts on March 31st for 8 weeks, so register early to save your space.

For ongoing practice and deeper learning, join my monthly membership program. You will find a safe space for live discussions and a supportive community of like-minded, open-hearted humans.


Subscribe & Follow:
Stay updated on new episodes and resources by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts or visiting yvetteerasmus.com.

Thank you for listening!

Here are more ways to connect with me:

• Become a member of my online learning community
• Join my Spring Deep Dive: The Art of Repair Work
• Join our calls live
• Set up a private session
• Follow me on TikTok @dr.yvetteerasmus

Have you ever been cast as the "villain" in someone else's story? Perhaps you're seen as the one who got it wrong, didn't do enough, or failed to meet expectations?

Today, we explore what it means to hold our ground in relationships without getting defensive, to listen without justifying, and to accept that sometimes, people need to see us as the problem while they process their own pain.

In today's conversation, Jill's daughter just sent her a long list of parenting grievances. How can she respond with love and understanding without falling into the trap of proving herself?

And, Jaya keeps finding herself in relationships where she feels small. How does she break the cycle of submission, reclaim her voice, and recognize when a dynamic isn't worth staying in?

Together we'll explore:

✨ Why defensiveness keeps us stuck—and what to do instead

✨ How to recognize the real need behind someone’s anger or blame

✨ The difference between explaining and connecting

✨ How to trust your own voice, even when someone else tries to rewrite the narrative

✨ When to stay, when to engage, and when to let go

Show Notes:

• 1:01 Opening comments
• 3:43 My daughter wrote me an angry text and I'm not sure how to best respond.
• 20:55 The healing is not in litigating the past, but happens in the present.
• 27:04 My pattern in relationships is to collapse. How can I be more assertive?
• 30:47 The key to asking for what we want
• 41:28 Healing requires a regulated nervous system
• 49:23 Closing thoughts

If you've ever felt misunderstood, unfairly judged, or struggled to maintain connection while standing in your truth, this episode is for you.

Please share with your family and friends!

Use PODCAST50 to get $50 off tuition for my Spring Deep Dive, The Art of Repair Work: From Regret to Resilience. Group starts on March 31st for 8 weeks, so register early to save your space.

For ongoing practice and deeper learning, join my monthly membership program. You will find a safe space for live discussions and a supportive community of like-minded, open-hearted humans.


Subscribe & Follow:
Stay updated on new episodes and resources by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts or visiting yvetteerasmus.com.

Thank you for listening!

Here are more ways to connect with me:

• Become a member of my online learning community
• Join my Spring Deep Dive: The Art of Repair Work
• Join our calls live
• Set up a private session
• Follow me on TikTok @dr.yvetteerasmus