Paris Hilton Details Experience With Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria

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Paris Hilton is getting real about her mental health.

Paris talked about the difficulties of having ADHD and explained how she deals with rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD), a condition frequently seen in people with ADHD.

Paris explained that negative thoughts or feelings – like believing someone is being rude – can actually feel like physical pain. It’s not based in reality, she said, but more like a negative voice inside your head, constantly putting yourself down. She described it as having a ‘demon’ in your mind engaging in negative self-talk, during an appearance on the The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Show podcast with Lauryn and Michael Bosstick.

Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) can lead to intense emotional pain when someone experiences failure or feels rejected, explains the Cleveland Clinic.

The reality TV star explained she felt things very intensely, sometimes to the point of great pain.

Paris explained that growing up, ADHD was often seen as a condition that only boys got, which left her feeling constantly puzzled and unsure of herself.

She remembered struggling a lot in school. No matter how much she studied, she just couldn’t seem to retain information, and she constantly failed tests. This led to frequent detentions and getting into trouble.

Paris has learned a lot about ADHD and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD). Because of this, when she experiences strong emotional pain, she recognizes it’s often not a genuine feeling, but rather a reaction from her RSD.

She went on to say that she’s eager to learn as much as possible and share what she discovers. She believes this isn’t something people need to be limited by—instead, it can be a strength that helps them achieve their goals.

The 44-year-old, who shares three-year-old Phoenix and two-year-old London with her husband Carter Reum, has realized how her ADHD and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) have actually contributed to her achievements.

The singer of “Stars Are Blind” explained that people used to focus only on the downsides of a certain experience. That’s why she now views it as a strength. She believes it’s actually helped her become the entrepreneur she is today, giving her motivation and a forward-thinking mindset.

For more stars who have opened up about their journeys with mental health, read on. 

Rapper Radric Davis, known professionally as Gucci Mane, shared in his 2025 book, Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man, that he was diagnosed with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This diagnosis followed a mental health crisis he experienced in 2020.

He explained on The Breakfast Club that the experience made him realize he needed to prioritize his health and take responsibility for his well-being. He stated he never wants to go through something similar again and is committed to seeing a therapist, and will even consider medication if necessary.

Gucci Mane shared that he hoped opening up about his struggles would help others. He also said his children, Ice Davis and Iceland Davis, with his wife Keyshia Ka’Oir, motivated him to get help when he was going through a difficult time.

He explained that his wife was pregnant with their son, and he worried about the impact raising a family would have on his mental health. He feared a severe mental health episode he might not recover from, so he proactively began therapy and sought support.

Oh my gosh, I just read that one of my absolute favorite actors from Gossip Girl opened up about something so brave! He talked about how, growing up as a kid actor, he really struggled with how he saw his own body – he actually called it ‘body dysmorphia.’ It’s just…wow. I’m so proud of him for sharing something so personal, and it really makes you think about what child stars go through.

In an April 2025 interview with The Guardian, Penn shared that they used to strongly dislike their body and wished they had a different one.

He explained that after his parents’ divorce, and following a period of depression and withdrawal, he began to focus on his appearance. He felt pressure to be conventionally attractive, believing it would lead to greater success and make him feel more valuable.

Despite the mental struggles, though, Penn credited his ability to persist to his spirituality.

He explained that it was what helped him overcome his disappointments and personal struggles, and ultimately return to things with a sense of personal growth.

The Scrubs alum has been vocal about her past difficult relationship with food.

She described her struggles with food, saying on The Funny Thing Is podcast, “Some people might label it an eating disorder, but it’s just how I lived my life.” She admitted to engaging in extreme behaviors related to food, calling it her ‘drug of choice.’

She added, “I would over-exercise, and there was a sprinkle of bulimia in there.”

Despite admitting she finds it hard to stick to a diet, she’s also been open about the positive steps she’s making towards a healthier lifestyle.

In 2017, she told Bon Appétit that at age 23, she completely changed her lifestyle by eliminating sugar, stopping alcohol, and taking up yoga, breathing exercises, and stretching. She described these changes as being more effective than the drug Ritalin.

She shared that she struggles with food and body image, which she described as a genuine challenge. However, she’s working to overcome these issues and is focusing on a healthy lifestyle by nourishing her body with good food.

The Full House alum reflected on her mental health journey and navigating her battle with depression.

Okay, so Candace was talking on her podcast, and honestly, it really resonated with me. She said it’s just so hard to even tell people what you’re going through, even the ones you trust the most! And what’s even worse is she feels like she should be able to handle it on her own, like being strong means you don’t need to talk about it, but then admitting you need to talk feels like a weakness. I totally get that! It’s like, you want to be strong, but needing support isn’t a bad thing, right? It just…it’s complicated, and she explained it so well.

The Grammy-winning artist often talks about how she safeguards her well-being, like blocking out negativity online, and she also offers guidance to others who might be struggling.

When asked for mental health advice, she told Vogue that the most important thing is patience. She explained that being patient with herself – not rushing things, waiting, and allowing time to pass – was key to her own well-being. She believes that difficult feelings will eventually subside with time.

As people adjusted to social distancing to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, the singer of “Firework” opened up about how challenging times like these can be emotionally.

She tweeted that it’s often hard to decide whether the virus itself or the resulting sadness from this new way of life is more difficult to deal with. Katy explained that she often finds peace in her car, saying it’s become her safe haven since there aren’t many other places she feels comfortable going.

The model partnered with designer Kenneth Cole to support The Mental Health Coalition and shared her personal struggles with anxiety during an interview on Good Morning America.

After her panic attacks began happening again, she was finally able to understand what was going on.

Kendall explained that she experiences both good and very anxious days, making her emotional state quite inconsistent. This is why she was drawn to get involved with the movement – she wants people to know they’re not alone in their struggles.

The actor known for playing Black Adam has publicly discussed his struggles with depression and the challenges many men face when trying to talk about their mental well-being.

Everyone experiences difficult times and struggles with depression – it doesn’t care who you are. It took me a while to understand this, but the most important thing is to not be afraid to talk about what you’re going through. Men, especially, often tend to keep their feelings bottled up, but remember – you’re not alone.

Prince Harry helped reduce the shame around getting mental health support when he discussed his own experiences with therapy in an interview with the Telegraph. He explained that talking about his struggles made him realize many people go through similar things, saying, “Once you start talking about it, you realize you’re part of a large community.”

The actress from Empire is a strong advocate for seeking professional help, having publicly discussed her own experiences with depression. She’s shared that therapy is essential for her well-being, telling Variety, “I have a therapist that I speak to. That’s the only way I can get through it.”

Taraji P. Henson founded The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to fight the stigma surrounding mental health within the Black community and to expand access to Black mental health professionals.

The Grammy-winning artist revealed she began a treatment using MDMA and psilocybin therapy to cope with both a past eating disorder and performance anxiety, which she described as similar to PTSD.

She told Rolling Stone in May 2025 that she experienced touring without any nervousness for the first time. She described a strange, shared physical sensation – almost like a change in air pressure – that she felt with the entire audience. This made her understand how much she thrives on and needs that powerful, emotional connection with people to truly feel her music come alive.

She explained that prioritizing her mental health and stopping birth control helped her develop a broader understanding of her gender identity.

She explained that she decided to stop taking birth control, feeling like it had severed a connection to conventional expectations of womanhood. It might sound strange, but she felt liberated from those expectations, as if it opened up new possibilities for her.

In 2017, the actress from Riverdale shared on Instagram that she battled with serious anxiety and depression in middle school, and that support from her family and a therapist was life-saving. She emphasized the importance of reaching out for help, saying it’s the first step, and reminded people that they are incredibly valuable.

The singer of “What He Didn’t Do” has spoken about her experiences living with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) over the past several years.

Carly shared on the August 2025 episode of Bunnie Xo’s Dumb Blonde podcast that her anxiety began during her divorce, which happened during the Covid pandemic. However, she also revealed she’s struggled with severe OCD since childhood.

Over the past decade, I became used to keeping things to myself and handling problems on my own. Eventually, a couple of years ago, I realized I needed to go back to therapy and start understanding what was going on. It wasn’t something that started recently; I’ve actually been dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder since I was a child, around 6 or 7 years old.

The actress known for Frozen has openly shared her mental health coping strategies for years, both in public speeches and on social media platforms like Instagram.

She encourages people to discover what works best for them, and, as she shared with Health magazine, this could involve things like medication, balancing negative thoughts with ten positives, and regular exercise.

The cookbook author is a mother of four and has openly discussed her experience with postpartum depression, a common but often unspoken challenge for new mothers.

She explained in a 2017 letter to Glamour that it became simpler each time she spoke about it. Her hope was to show others that anyone can experience this, and to make those who are going through it feel less ashamed and isolated.

While publicizing her book, Mirror, Mirror, the model shared with The Edit magazine that she struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts as a teen, describing a feeling of “something dark” within her during that period.

Cara explained to the publication, as reported by W magazine, that she used to depend on love and other people for her happiness. She realized she needed to learn to find joy on her own, and after a long journey, she finally can. Now, she’s able to be happy and content when she’s by herself.

Ariana Grande responded to a fan’s joke about her therapist by sharing how much therapy has helped her. She tweeted that it has “saved my life so many times,” encouraging others to seek help if they need it.

She added, “Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You don’t have to live with constant pain, and it is possible to heal from trauma. I have a long way to go, but simply realizing that change is possible is a good first step.”

The singer has often discussed her struggles with addiction, her path to recovery, and her mental health – and she frequently incorporates these experiences into her songs.

She consistently encourages her followers to prioritize their mental wellbeing, emphasizing that it’s a continuous effort with inevitable setbacks. She previously shared on Instagram, “Just a reminder to anyone who’s having a hard time – life has its highs and lows, but it’s important to keep going.”

The actress has explored mental health both on screen, like in her role as Rue on the show Euphoria, and in her personal life.

In 2013, Zendaya shared on her old app that she felt anxious after a TV appearance on Ellen when her microphone malfunctioned. She’s since found ways to cope with those feelings, explaining that sometimes you need to take a break to reduce stress.

In a recent interview with WSJ Magazine, the singer openly shared her experiences with mental health, explaining that she experienced extreme emotional swings – periods of intense highs followed by weeks-long lows.

She revealed she’s been dealing with mental health challenges, but finding the right medication has made a huge difference in her life.

The Grammy-winning artist dedicated herself to promoting kindness and openly discussing mental health, sharing her own experiences as well.

She shared that she’d kept her mental health struggles private for a long time, but believes that keeping those struggles hidden actually made things worse. She said this while accepting the Global Changemakers Award at a 2018 fundraiser for Children Mending Hearts.

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2026-01-27 23:19