Everybody has been rejected at some point in their lives. Whether big or small, rejection can hurt just as much as a broken arm or bruised knee, so why don’t we treat it the same? On this episode, I am redefining pain to include the social component and examining exactly why rejection can hurt so bad.
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The lingering pain of rejection can change our lives forever, so it is necessary to understand the emotional, cognitive and social components of a distressing experience. Get ready to learn how the brain is impacted by pain regardless of its origin, how to use top-down processing to change your perceptions, and ways to soothe yourself using your neuron processors. In addition to the science behind pain, I am also explaining how social rejection impacts the immune system, the destruction pain killers could be having on your body and relationships, and how to use self-care to stay in the good graces of those that we love.
While rejection is a very common thing in everyday life, ranging from economic issues to forming friendships and familial bonds, learning how to move on from rejection is your best tool to handle it with grace and ease. Whether you have dealt with rejection from a close loved one directly, or social rejection, there are strategies out there to help you move forward without becoming more isolated. Although we can never fully avoid rejection, by recognizing the physical pain caused by it we can take steps to heal together.
Do you have a lingering memory of rejection? How has it impacted how you interact with the world? Let us know in the comments below!
In This Episode
- Understanding the physical-social overlap of how we process pain
- The main difference between pain from a physical component and social rejection
- Why rejection from those closest to you hurts the more than rejection from strangers
- Reasons developing defense mechanisms against rejection is not a good thing
- Using physical exercise and social interaction as a way to naturally heal
Quotes
“Rejection is a component of being a social creature. But it hurts us so deeply, that it is embedded into who we are as humans.” (5:34)
“Pain that has no physical cause, emotional or social pain, is just as real as pain from a broken arm, cancer, or any other physical ailment.” (8:38)
“Because humans are social creatures, any definition of pain that does not include the social component is incomplete.” (9:17)
“There is a reason why we experience emotional pain. It is often necessary for introspection, insight, maturity, and personal grown.” (19:51)
