Obsessive Rejection Syndrome

Obsessive Rejection Syndrome (ORS) also known as Obsessive Rejection Disorder (ORD) for those who suffer badly.

Symptoms and behaviors

Intense emotional pain: Experiencing deep emotional hurt, shame, or sadness over minor slights or even neutral comments, often feeling disproportionate to the situation.

Obsessive thinking: Replaying perceived rejections or failures over and over in one's mind, leading to a cycle of worry.

Extreme emotional reactions: Sudden and intense anger, sadness, or anxiety in response to criticism. Some may internalize these feelings as self-deprecation, while others may lash out.

Avoidance: Steering clear of social or professional situations where rejection is possible.

Perfectionism and people-pleasing: Going to great lengths to avoid criticism or disappointing others.

Difficulty recovering: Struggling to recover emotionally from perceived rejection, even when reassured by others.

Low self-esteem: A general feeling of low self-worth and a struggle to believe in oneself. 

I physically hurt when I feel rejected and then can't stop thinking about it, over and over. I then avoid because I struggle to recover from the pain and my self-esteem dips again.  I think this is also because I set my expectations to high.

-Tanya-