How Can I Connect With Family When I Am Afraid of Rejection?

Fear of rejection is a real thing that can stifle your ability to reach out and connect with family.  Sometimes your mind drifts off with thoughts like, “Is it possible to connect with family, again?” Or perhaps you have never felt like you connected in the first place. Rejection prevents you from reaching out because that is the unknown and you may be afraid of not being accepted. 

There is hope when rejection is present. Sometimes all it takes is just a readjustment of your thought process and a boost to your self-confidence. This blog will explore healthy coping skills when rejection is at the root of disconnection and discuss helpful tips to change your thought process.

Connect With Family by Acceptance

You have arrived in this space because you are searching for answers. At some point, you thought of how to connect with family when you fear rejection. Recognition is the first step in healing. It is hard to admit that you struggle with acceptance of who you are and where you have been. Taking time to reflect on all the hard lessons that you have learned can be taxing, but there is hope. 

In treatment, you learned that recovery is personal and has many pathways to get you where you need to be. Accepting yourself on this journey, in this moment, is no different. You are a unique person who has overcome many challenges in your life. This is the time to give yourself credit. It is important to reflect on the present moments instead of dissecting past actions. 

Embracing Change to Connect With Family

At times, it is easier to reflect on the past than it is to stay in the present. Sometimes, people’s words have a funny way of hitting the core, always in sensitive spots that have not been forgiven. Let’s explore several healthy coping skills to embrace the change in this new season of your life:

• Avoid isolation: To connect with family, you should be engaging. Start by picking one family member that you want to connect with. Then make small steps to connect. For example, send a text message or engage on social media.
• Practice: Try in front of a mirror until you are ready to connect with family.
• Stop comparing: It is easy to compare your life to someone else’s on social media. Remember that the reality is much different from what is posted there.
• Mindfulness: Embrace the moment by practicing yoga/meditation before you connect with family. You will connect with yourself and understand how your body is reacting to your fear of rejection. 
• Journal: Writing your thoughts and feelings down is like having a therapist all the time. It is just you and the things that you write. This allows your mind to be free. Later, you can reflect on how far you have come.

Accepting Rejection

No matter who you are and where you go in life, there will always be someone who rejects you. It is a great accomplishment to arrive in a space where you are ready to connect with family. This is a brave choice. At Restoration Recovery Center, we understand how much emotion and growth it has taken from you to arrive at this point.

Understanding how to accept rejection can tie your stomach up in knots. Rest assured, this feeling is normal. There is a root to your negative thoughts and a reason why they contribute to your fear. Feelings of rejection are normal in every area of your life; however, what is difficult is how you allow that rejection to control relationships in your life. 

Ask yourself, “What are some negative thoughts that increase your fear?” Are those thoughts real? Do you have concrete evidence that they exist? Let’s take some time to explore negative thinking traps:

• All-or-nothing thinking: This happens when you believe that there are only two outcomes: success or failure. Try reminding yourself that small goals are just as important as big goals.
• Overgeneralizing: This is when you see a single event and deem it true instead of getting all of the facts. Understand that you need all the facts before forming an opinion.
• Blaming yourself: It is common to blame yourself or others when things do not go as planned. Learn to change your thoughts and be a go-with-the-flow kind of person.

No matter where you are in your recovery, reconnecting with your family can be difficult. Blaming yourself for past choices can interfere. You are not responsible for how others feel about you, but you are held accountable for how you treat others. At Restoration Recovery, we understand that the journey may be difficult when attempting to connect with family, and we are here to help. 

Fear can manipulate the mind to stand still amidst uncertainty. It is easy to get caught up in all the “what ifs” in recovery. Connecting with family is no exception. You may have spent a lot of time thinking about how to make that first step. However, fear can stop you from doing what you want to do the most. At Restoration Recovery, we understand that you may be afraid of rejection. It is time for you to reframe your thinking and practice healthy coping skills to engage with those who love you the most. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, do not hesitate to call us at (888) 290-0925 today.