Rejection can be defined as the act of pushing someone or something away. One may experience rejection from one’s family of origin, a friend, or a romantic partner, and the resulting emotions can often be painful.
Today, many people isolate themselves or hold back from connecting to others because they’re afraid of being rejected. Fear of or sensitivity to rejection that causes someone to pull away from others can lead to chronic feelings of loneliness and depression. While rejection sensitivity can co-occur with many mental health issues including social anxiety, avoidant personality, and borderline personality, it is not an official diagnosis.
Rejection sensitivity is common in many people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Fear of rejection may occur so regularly in individuals with ADHD that some refer to it as rejection sensitive dysphoria. Some common signs of rejection sensitive dysphoria in those with ADHD include self-criticism, anxiety in social situations, and extreme sadness after a perceived rejection.
Ongoing or long-term rejection may have deep and lasting psychological effects which may include trauma, depression, anxiety, increased pain : (Learn more Good Therapy)