Why Does Rejection Hurt? The Hidden Fear of Getting It Wrong

Why does a small criticism stay with us for days?Why do some of us assume the worst after an unexpected email, a delayed reply, or a change in someone's tone?In this episode of The Thoughtful Doctor, we explore 'rejection sensitivity ', the fear of getting things wrong, the hidden impact of repeated criticism, and why some people experience rejection far more intensely than others.We talk about rejection sensitivity, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), childhood experiences, masking, perfectionism, and how our nervous system learns to expect danger where there may be none.Most importantly, we explore how understanding these patterns can help us respond with greater compassion rather than self-criticism.Because perhaps the greatest cost of repeated criticism isn't lower confidence.It's that one day, we become the person who criticises ourselves before anyone else has the chance.