One of Humanities Greatest Fears
Rejection
It hurts to be rejected. Whether it is a friend, a coworker, or someone you just met, we hate to be rejected. When the people rejecting us are one or both parents, we, as humans, react badly, forming mental health issues within our undeveloped brains.
This article will tackle rejection and how to accept it and move on.
What is the Fear of Rejection?
Fear of rejection is an understandable fear that is part of us being human. The origins of fear of rejection might have formed when our ancestors long ago relied on belonging to a group to survive.
One of the most ancient parts of the brain is the amygdala, which registers threats and acts to mitigate them by sending chemical messages to other parts of the brain and body. If the amygdala senses rejection, it responds to it like any other threat as though it were life-threatening.
Childhood trauma, where there is rejection in the form of neglect and abuse, leaves adult survivors with problems that can negatively impact their life or get in the way of opportunities.
Those who are afraid of rejection fear not being liked, being abandoned, or not fitting in. Above all else, they fear being alone. People who fear rejection struggle with low self-esteem, guilt, shame, and a defined lack of self-confidence.
Signs of fear of rejection may include any or all of the following.
· People pleasing
· Not being able to say no
· Working too hard
· Remaining in unhealthy relationships
· Keeping your thoughts and feelings to yourself
· Fear of failure
· Codependency
· Perfectionism
· Allowing others to violate your boundaries
The above list is not all-inclusive.
Rejection is Inevitable
It is impossible to go through life without experiencing some rejection. We are turned down for a date or not invited to a party are some examples of rejection. What we do for ourselves to absorb our being rejected by others is what makes the difference.
