Intentionally facing rejection has emerged as a TikTok trend. Rejection therapy, a form of exposure therapy, encourages people to approach a stranger each day with an unlikely to be fulfilled request—fully expecting a rejection. The goal is that through repeated practice, they can confront the feelings of anxiety connected to hearing “no,” even in tougher situations, and coping with rejection overall. Experts have weighed in on this trend, sharing insights that they think young people interested in the viral trend should consider; while the trend may alleviate some anxiety, it could also induce different forms of anxiety or feelings of rejection, which differ from traditional, unexpected experiences. But, as long as viewers who want to give it a go understand the nuances that can arise in real-life situations as opposed to those casually anticipated through the social media challenge, many think the trend can in fact be useful. (CNN)
📊 YPulse data: 70% of 13-39-year-olds agree, “I often worry about things I cannot control”
