Several experts recommend waiting 6 months to a year before trying to befriend someone you once had romantic feelings for. In the meantime, get back out there on the dating scene! Having a new crush can help show you the rejection wasn't that serious to begin with.
End the friendship if you can't get over him.
If you've tried the whole friendship thing and you still have strong feelings for him, remaining friends will only hurt you. You can distance yourself slowly or let him know outright that it's just too painful to stay friends.
Additionally, if you do want to remain friends, giving your ex some time and space after the rejection can give them agency in their healing process. While you may instantly be ready to jump back into a platonic thing, they may need a while to unpack their feelings.
As you try and move on after being rejected, don't text him or comment on his social media either. Give him space, and if he does reach out to you again, then you can consider if you are ready to talk to him.
It's better to be honest about how you feel — to yourself at least — rather than trying to force feelings away. Not only does that not work, it usually just makes things worse. Accepting them and acknowledging them without acting on them and just letting them be works much better for letting inconvenient crushes fade.
Most people start to feel better 11 weeks following rejection and report a sense of personal growth; similarly after divorce, partners start to feel better after months, not years. However, up to 15 percent of people suffer longer than three months (“It's Over,” Psychology Today, May-June, 2015).
Flirt with them and with others.
It could be helpful to occasionally flirt with your crush, to show them that you are playfully considering them. You don't want to only flirt with them or flirt with them frequently, though. Make it clear that your options are open and that you are considering other people.
Being around somebody that's rejected you can be incredibly awkward. You both know how you truly feel about each other, and that'll make you both uncomfortable. That awkward vibe won't go away, so the internet's Dr.
The "friend zone" is a term some people use to describe a situation where one person is physically or romantically attracted to someone who sees them as a friend. Typically, the friend has made their interest known and gotten a rejection, with the object of their affection making it clear they want to remain friends.
The job market is much the same. And one common question that job seekers have is: Is it okay to reapply for a position with a company after being rejected? The answer, in short, is: Yes! A rejection shouldn't deter you from giving it another go, even when it comes to a company that previously rejected you.
All that being said, it's perfectly fine to send a follow-up email after you get rejected. Although you could easily end the conversation there without a response, it can be a good way to show that you were truly interested in the position and are disappointed that it didn't work out. But be smart about it!
If a guy is rejecting you while he obviously likes you, it might be because his mind is wandering to thoughts that he's just not good enough for you; he might wonder why you like him and think that you'll leave him for someone else eventually anyway.
Nothing will prohibit you from becoming friends with her, that is, unless if she is too immature. If she's too immature to realize that you're just trying to become friends with her and doesn't want to befriend you, then you need to move on from even trying to socialize with that girl — sorry, but it's true.
Try to have a fresh start
If you are trying to win over the girl who rejected you then, first of all, take a step back and make a fresh start. Work on removing all the awkwardness surrounding your relationship with the girl after you are rejected by her. Start as a friend the second time around.
Rejection can take a major toll on your self-esteem and often leads to deep emotional wounds and wounds in your spirit that open up doors that cause you to experience other negative emotions, including depression, fear, doubt, isolation, self-pity, suicidal thoughts, people pleasing, double-mindedness, eating disorders ...
Avoid rumination and instead affirm your self-worth.
After a rejection, we tend to beat ourselves up over the things that might have led us to be rejected — and might even end up dwelling on these negative emotions, a process called rumination.
Rejection trauma, also known as rejection-sensitive dysphoria (RSD), is a psychological disorder where there is an intense emotional response when someone is rejected or criticised. It can affect an individual's emotional well-being, self-esteem, and social interactions.
People with rejection sensitivity can do one or more of the following: Feel severe anxiety or other negative emotions before an anticipated rejection. Have trouble seeing nonpositive interactions (such as neutral or vague reactions) as anything but rejection and react accordingly.
The same areas of our brain become activated when we experience rejection as when we experience physical pain. That's why even small rejections hurt more than we think they should, because they elicit literal (albeit, emotional) pain.
Several specific emotions arise from the prospect or presence of rejection, including hurt feelings, loneliness, jealousy, guilt, shame, social anxiety, embarrassment, sadness, and anger.
Let them know that you need some time away from them to get over your feelings. If they are a good friend, they'll understand and respect your wishes. If you aren't really friends with your crush, you don't need to explain to them that you're taking some time away from them. In fact, it's probably better if you don't.