If you've ever wondered, "Why does everyone hate me?", you're not alone. This feeling is more common than you might think, and there's a solid reason why your brain engages in this kind of negative spiral.

Why do you feel this way?
The development of society is partly to blame. Once upon a time, being excluded from a group could be a matter of life or death, so people were programmed to be very sensitive to social rejection. So sensitive that the brain experiences exclusion in the same way as physical pain. This means that even the smallest signal - a vague message, a cold look or a missed invitation - can be immediately interpreted as total hatred from everyone.

But spoiler alert: 99% of the time, it's not true! Here are some tips that can help you get out of this feeling:

1. Look for evidence that people don't hate you.

Your brain tends to only see the “facts” that support the idea that everyone hates you, but forgets all the times when people have been nice to you. Make a conscious effort to notice the positive signals: someone greeting you with a smile, a friend texting you first, a colleague giving you a compliment. It can also help to keep a list of these moments, so you can refer back to them when you’re feeling down.

2. Ask yourself: “Can I see this differently?”

Your thoughts are often more dramatic than reality. Instead of taking the idea “They hate me” for granted, try thinking of other, less extreme scenarios. Maybe your friend didn’t respond to you because they’re busy, not because they can’t stand you. Maybe your coworker was distracted, not upset with you.

3. Sometimes, this feeling tells you something important.

In some cases, feeling left out can be a sign that something needs to change. If you're constantly uncomfortable with a group of people, maybe they're not the right friends for you. Or maybe you need to set healthier boundaries in your relationships.

4. Observe the situations when it happens to you most often

Do you only have this feeling in the evening, when you're home alone? Or when you're looking at social media? Or does it always happen when you're with a certain group of people? When you start to notice a pattern, you can better understand what's causing this feeling and how to better manage it.

5. Accept that not everyone will like you.

You don't like everyone, do you? Well, the same goes for you. And that doesn't mean you're a bad person. People have different preferences, opinions, and often, reasons that have nothing to do with you why they might not be your closest friends. And that's totally normal.

6. Focus on the things you like about yourself

Instead of trying to figure out if people like you, try to figure out what you like about yourself. Are you kind? Do you have a good sense of humor? Can you cook delicious food? Whatever it is, I often reminded myself. Ultimately, your self-worth should come from within rather than from others.

7. Don't isolate yourself.

When you feel like everyone hates you, it's easy to fall into the trap of isolating yourself. But that only makes things worse. Instead of withdrawing, make an effort to stay connected with people - even if it's just through a simple text message. The more you withdraw into yourself, the stronger the feeling of being liked by no one.

Remember that opinions are not facts. Just because your brain is telling you that everyone hates you doesn't mean it's true. Look for counter-evidence, challenge negative thoughts, and don't let a moment of uncertainty make you doubt yourself. You are worth more than a vague text message or an uninvited dinner!