The definition of pathological fear9/20/2023 Many people struggle with social anxiety and fear of being rejected in social settings. When this happens, fear of rejection becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. When one partner in a committed relationship has relationship anxiety and is not able to feel secure or comfortable, their constant need for reassurance often becomes a strain on the relationship. People may also push others away before they get close, to try to avoid this fear. Fear of Rejection in Relationshipsįear of rejection in romantic relationships can lead to not showing interest or sharing feelings with a potential partner, or result in jealousy, insecurity, or neediness. Someone with a fear of rejection at work may also work way too hard or for too long to try to prove themselves. Someone dealing with new job anxiety may stay in a job that is a poor fit for far too long and miss out on career growth. Interview anxiety can cause someone to not apply for the job they want, to dread the interview process, or to struggle through the interview. 3 Fear of Rejection in Careersįear of rejection can cost people a great deal in their careers, including missing out on good opportunities, not asking for pay increases or discussing needed changes to work responsibilities, or staying stuck in their current position due to fear. Fear of rejection can become serious enough to result in rejection sensitive dysphoria, which has been linked to ADHD. They may be clingy, need constant reassurance, become jealous or suspicious, or compare themselves negatively with others. People with a fear of rejection may put unrealistic expectations on others. 2įear of rejection can harm personal and professional relationships. Fawning is the act of desperately trying to smooth things over and please others in order to avoid conflict or rejection. PTSD is known to not only trigger the fight or flight response, but also the fawn response, which is related to fear of rejection. OCD, for example, can cause rumination and obsessive thinking about whether someone is liked or accepted by their romantic interests, peers, or coworkers. 1 Other mental health concerns can cause fear of rejection as well. Social anxiety can be related to fear of rejection, due to the fear of doing or saying something embarrassing, not being liked, or not being able to connect with others. Common fears related to rejection such as the fear of public speaking can be normal and expected but can cause problems when they start to negatively impact a person’s life or get in the way of opportunities. Our ancestors relied on being accepted in the group for survival, so ancient parts of the human brain including the amygdala can register a rejection as life-threatening. Putting up with poor treatment from othersįear of rejection is a common and understandable fear and can be a normal part of being human.Hiding your true thoughts/feelings from others.They can also have a tendency to stay in unhealthy relationships for too long. They may feel uncomfortable speaking their mind or expressing their opinions, or they may struggle to set boundaries and say no. Someone who is afraid of rejection may find themselves in situations where they put others’ needs and wants before their own.
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