Is Rejection Therapy the Cure for Social Anxiety? TikTok Says Yes.

You can at all times count on TikTok to disclose recent mental health trends. The latest one, called “rejection therapy,” encourages individuals with social anxiety to search out rejection in order that they can desensitize themselves to it, ultimately improving their fear of social situations. This technique is actually one other type of exposure therapy.

With 63 million views on TikTok, many users are getting in on the trend, but therapists query whether it’s helpful. According to Jenniel Taylor, a registered psychotherapist at Bloom, Psychology & Wellness, rejection therapy is predicated on exposure therapy and emotional tolerance training, two pillars of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which mixes elements of psychological principles with a gamified approach.

While this may be a superb type of therapy, Taylor says the trend isn’t without its risks. “People with underlying mental health issues, such as depression and general anxiety, may experience an exacerbation of symptoms as a result of repeated exposure to rejection. In addition, repeated failures can undermine self-esteem and lead to emotional distress. Rejection therapy should be approached with caution and care,” she says.

If you’re considering trying this method, Taylor suggests fastidiously considering your emotional well-being and the potential risks and advantages, and looking for skilled advice. A therapist can provide tailored support and methods to mitigate possible risks or assist you to manage emotional dysregulation. She also recommends starting with low-stakes challenges, progressively increasing the intensity, and at all times prioritizing self-care.

It’s vital to keep in mind that rejection therapy is only one piece of the puzzle and shouldn’t be a comprehensive solution to social anxiety. “Professional therapy can provide a deeper understanding of the attachment wounds that may be influencing how you cope with rejection and can provide insight into the root causes of social anxiety while providing additional tools for challenging negative beliefs, developing coping mechanisms, and building resilience,” Taylor says.

A powerful support network can be useful for anyone embarking on this journey. Friends, family, or support groups can offer encouragement, empathy, and a protected space to process challenges and get better if you might have a scary experience.

Rejection is a traditional a part of life. Building resilience takes time, and finding healthy ways to manage and grow through it is crucial, especially offline. Taylor believes that rejection therapy could be a a part of overcoming social anxiety when approached fastidiously and with the guidance of execs. A holistic approach includes therapy, self-care, and a powerful support network.

Alternatively, Natasha Reynolds, a therapist at Bloom Psychology & Wellness, believes that rejection therapy means that you can take small emotional risks and construct confidence and drive to try recent things, which may result in more opportunities and stepping outside your comfort zone. But that doesn’t mean it’s an automatic cure for social anxiety. “There can be varying degrees of social anxiety that can make this ‘rejection therapy’ a hindrance rather than a support for social anxiety, especially if someone is already experiencing more social anxiety. For example, someone who overthinks after exposure and experiences panic attacks during or after exposure,” says Reynolds.

Reflection is vital if you must take part in this trend. Reynolds encourages people to think about whether this exposure is aligned with their values. For example, ask yourself, am I moving toward what I need, what is essential to me, or am I moving away from it? Am I maintaining my boundaries and respecting the boundaries of others in the process? Am I aware of my limitations in practicing this trend? What might tell me that I would like further support in my journey to cope with social anxiety?

While exposing yourself to situations that trigger, amplify, reinforce, and exacerbate your worst fears isn’t necessarily a nasty thing, Reynolds also believes that it is best to practice this approach with a licensed skilled, not on your individual. Therapists tailor treatment plans and support their clients in coping with anxiety in a gradual and highly personalized way, with the goal of unnecessarily triggering people’s hopes, stopping the person looking for treatment from becoming re-traumatized and more anxious than they were to start with. “This makes the TikTok trend of rejection therapy potentially very dangerous when done without guidance or supervision, and extremely risky for people who may not be familiar with the depth of their anxiety and how rejection therapy can affect them in unhelpful ways,” adds psychotherapist and founding father of Bloom Psychology & Wellness Meghan Watson.

She continues: “Imagine your social anxiety is causing intense, recurring panic attacks and you see the TikTok trend of rejection therapy, trying it without careful support, planning and discussion with a mental health professional. If you have been provoked into a traumatic or anxiety response without a plan, preparation or appropriate post-intervention processing, the risk of retraumatization, development of negative core beliefs and reactive interpersonal stress is very high.”