Recent Posts

Is Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria Related to Narcissism?

Vulnerable narcissists are most often females whose characteristics are similar to borderline personality disorder and rejection sensitive dysphoria.

Vulnerable narcissists are most often females whose characteristics are similar to borderline personality disorder and rejection sensitive dysphoria.

4 Downsides of Using Perfectionism to Avoid Rejection

Many people with ADHD adopt perfectionism as a coping strategy to avoid the pain of rejection. However, this approach has some significant downsides.

Many people with ADHD adopt perfectionism as a coping strategy to avoid the pain of rejection. However, this approach has some significant downsides.

The Dark Side of Romance: Bad Thoughts Spark Bad Behavior

Many people are flattered to be the object of someone’s affection, but some should be frightened instead. Research reveals the dark side of romantic intentions.

Many people are flattered to be the object of someone’s affection, but some should be frightened instead. Research reveals the dark side of romantic intentions.

Is Rejection Sensitive Disorder Real or Really In Your Head?

Rejection sensitivity disorder is a lens through which we view our self-worth through the eyes of others. And it's not a great view.

Rejection sensitivity disorder is a lens through which we view our self-worth through the eyes of others. And it's not a great view.

5 Reasons We Fear Criticism

Why do some of us find criticism so upsetting and humiliating, and what can we do to view it more objectively?

Why do some of us find criticism so upsetting and humiliating, and what can we do to view it more objectively?

7 Signs You Might Have Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria

Rejection sensitivity dysphoria is a lesser-known symptom of ADHD. Many ADHDers find it helpful to reflect upon RSD's impact on their key social relationships.

Rejection sensitivity dysphoria is a lesser-known symptom of ADHD. Many ADHDers find it helpful to reflect upon RSD's impact on their key social relationships.

Why So Many of Us Crave Unavailable Partners

Why do we chase those who don’t reciprocate our feelings? Discover the psychological traps and social pressures that keep us hooked on the unattainable.

Why do we chase those who don’t reciprocate our feelings? Discover the psychological traps and social pressures that keep us hooked on the unattainable.

Actionable Advice for the Lovelorn from Ancient Rome

Two thousand years ago, Ovid wrote a self-help book on getting over a breakup. How many of his 38 strategies work for you?

Two thousand years ago, Ovid wrote a self-help book on getting over a breakup. How many of his 38 strategies work for you?

Do You Have a Friend Who Collects Grievances?

There are ways to think about and effectively interact with grievance collectors.

There are ways to think about and effectively interact with grievance collectors.

My Replacement Child Legacy and Additional Research

Why were there pictures of a toddler throughout the house, yet we weren’t permitted to talk about him or ask questions? Why did my mother stay in bed for hours, so exhausted?

Why were there pictures of a toddler throughout the house, yet we weren’t permitted to talk about him or ask questions? Why did my mother stay in bed for hours, so exhausted?

Is Virtual Therapy as Effective as In-Person Therapy?

Deciding whether to do therapy in person or virtually is an important one. Be sure to consider the richness of the interpersonal interactions as you decide.

Deciding whether to do therapy in person or virtually is an important one. Be sure to consider the richness of the interpersonal interactions as you decide.

What Motivates Stalkers?: The Purpose Behind the Pursuit

Research on stalking reveals the fuel that kindles dangerous fire.

Research on stalking reveals the fuel that kindles dangerous fire.

3 Reasons Why Someone Might "Pocket" a Partner

1. Fear of others' rejection.

1. Fear of others' rejection.

Re-Enchanting Your Romance

Those who struggle with a fear of rejection often experience strong romantic feelings at the beginning of a relationship, but then find things falling apart soon afterward.

Those who struggle with a fear of rejection often experience strong romantic feelings at the beginning of a relationship, but then find things falling apart soon afterward.

How to Turn Rejection Sensitivity Into Positive Growth

Rejection will always hurt, but you can use these strategies to manage your response.

Rejection will always hurt, but you can use these strategies to manage your response.

3 Science-Backed Ways to Heal Relationship Insecurity

How intense is your reaction to a colleague dismissing you or a romantic interest breaking up with you? Many people have some degree of rejection sensitivity.

How intense is your reaction to a colleague dismissing you or a romantic interest breaking up with you? Many people have some degree of rejection sensitivity.

Rethinking Our Approach to Mental Health Care for Autism

A Personal Perspective: Expression of one's true self is a key piece of well-being, yet autistic people often experience rejection. How can we encourage autistic well-being?

A Personal Perspective: Expression of one's true self is a key piece of well-being, yet autistic people often experience rejection. How can we encourage autistic well-being?

The Psychology of Rejection

Tips for dealing with rejection as a salesperson can be applied to other areas of our lives.

Tips for dealing with rejection as a salesperson can be applied to other areas of our lives.

Why It's OK Not to Have a Friend Group

Not being part of a friend group can lead to painful emotions, even when you have genuine individual friendships. Appreciating the value of your friendship-making style can help.

Not being part of a friend group can lead to painful emotions, even when you have genuine individual friendships. Appreciating the value of your friendship-making style can help.

Understanding Loneliness by Exploring Connection

There is a "loneliness epidemic" in the U.S. One psychological construct may be able to explain why we are struggling to connect with each other.

There is a "loneliness epidemic" in the U.S. One psychological construct may be able to explain why we are struggling to connect with each other.

Why Anxiously Attached People Can Be Avoidant, Too

People with anxious attachment often want loving romantic relationships but have a hard time seeing how they could play a role in their own rejection. Find out why.

People with anxious attachment often want loving romantic relationships but have a hard time seeing how they could play a role in their own rejection. Find out why.

What It Means to Have Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria

For individuals experiencing rejection-sensitive dysphoria, criticism can feel like freezing rain. Yet the phenomenon is not well understood. What can we do about it?

For individuals experiencing rejection-sensitive dysphoria, criticism can feel like freezing rain. Yet the phenomenon is not well understood. What can we do about it?

Machine Intimacy: When AI Is Caregiver and Confidante

Love in the age of digital production.

Love in the age of digital production.

5 Things to Consider Before Disclosing Your OCD While Dating

Dating is difficult. For people struggling with OCD, knowing how and when to disclose your diagnosis can be a challenge if you don't have a plan. Learn how to make yours.

Dating is difficult. For people struggling with OCD, knowing how and when to disclose your diagnosis can be a challenge if you don't have a plan. Learn how to make yours.

Ghosting: How to Deal with Digital Disconnects in Dating

Ghosting is on the rise, especially on mobile dating apps. Here are six things to think about before you ghost, and nine ways to deal with being ghosted.

Ghosting is on the rise, especially on mobile dating apps. Here are six things to think about before you ghost, and nine ways to deal with being ghosted.

8 Perceptions That Nurture Your Relationships

It’s natural to feel bad when you get rejected, but the intensity of those feelings will depend on how much you personalize the rejection.

It’s natural to feel bad when you get rejected, but the intensity of those feelings will depend on how much you personalize the rejection.

How the Need to Belong Both Helps and Hurts Us

We're wired to care about social acceptance, but in some situations, this instinct can have downsides.

We're wired to care about social acceptance, but in some situations, this instinct can have downsides.

When Family Members Downplay a Child's Potential Disability

Is the family rejecting your concerns about your child's symptoms of a possible disability? Let's discuss how to empower you through their disbelief.

Is the family rejecting your concerns about your child's symptoms of a possible disability? Let's discuss how to empower you through their disbelief.

Cause for Concern if You Are Highly Rejection Sensitive

A recent review of the research shows how rejection sensitivity affects romantic relationship closeness and satisfaction.

A recent review of the research shows how rejection sensitivity affects romantic relationship closeness and satisfaction.

10 Relationship Problems Caused by Rejection Sensitivity

Being especially attuned to any possible signs that a partner might reject you may itself create a more fertile ground for rejection.

Being especially attuned to any possible signs that a partner might reject you may itself create a more fertile ground for rejection.