I specifically remember my husband and I moving to a new apartment as soon as we got married. Looking back, I didn’t think I was asking for much: a little hello, an introduction or two, maybe an invite to dinner or some treats. Instead, I found myself being overwhelmed by what seemed like the sheer lack of interest our neighbors had in us.

Now, we’re not social butterflies or that popular power couple by any means. We – and by we, I mean I – had just hoped to at least get a hello from our new apartment-mates. This lack of interest led me to believe that maybe our neighbors had already made a judgement call about us and, unfortunately, that call was that they didn’t like us.

Will I ever find out if our neighbors really dislike us? Probably not. But I know for sure that, some day, I’ll get thrown into another new community of some sort, and I’ll probably make the same judgement call I’m afraid others are making about us: nobody likes me.

Honestly, feeling like nobody likes you can be a distressing and isolating experience. It’s important to remember, though, that there are often ways to address these feelings and improve your social connections. Don’t do what I did: stew in my bitter loneliness and wonder why they disliked us. Instead, acknowledge your feelings and try to approach them from a problem-solving perspective.

If you’re feeling like the most unlikeable person on the planet, don’t worry (you’re not, and it’s ok if you don’t believe us). 2) We’re here for you. Let’s dissect some of the common reasons why you might feel this way and some steps to consider for addressing these concerns:

1. Negative Self-Perception

Sometimes, negative self-perception can lead to a belief that nobody likes you. It’s important to recognize that our self-perception can be skewed by self-doubt and low self-esteem.

How to fix it: Work on building self-confidence and self-esteem through self-care, self-compassion, and positive self-talk. It might be cheesy, but try looking up self-care ideas, self-love affirmations, self-love challenges, or anything of the sort. If necessary, seek support from a therapist or counselor to address deeper self-esteem issues.

2. Social Anxiety

Social anxiety can make it difficult to connect with others and can lead to feelings of being disliked, even when that may not be the case. Social anxiety is not an end-all-be-all though: you can work through it and develop skills to help you manage.

How to fix it: Consider seeking therapy or counseling to learn strategies for managing social anxiety. Gradual exposure to social situations can also help desensitize anxiety.

3. Lack of Social Skills

Sometimes, people feel disliked because they struggle with social skills, such as effective communication or empathy.

How to fix it: Practice active listening, empathy, and open communication. You can also join social groups or classes to improve your social skills. Try challenging yourself to be in environments or communities where you know you’ll want to say something, and then try to talk to at least one person.

4. Negative Thought Patterns

Constantly thinking that nobody likes you can reinforce this belief and push people away. And it’s definitely not true! There is at least one person out there in this world that would that much sadder without your influence in their life; whether that’s the grocery store lady you were nice to, or a childhood friend who looks up to you…never underestimate the impact you can make.

How to fix it: Challenge negative thought patterns with positive affirmations and realistic thinking. Surround yourself with positive influences. There are plenty of affirmations you can find online that can help reinforce positive thinking, rather than the repetitive negative thoughts we can get stuck in.

5. Isolation

Isolating yourself from social opportunities can make it seem like nobody likes you because you’re not giving people the chance to get to know you.

How to fix it: Make an effort to engage in social activities, attend events, and connect with people who share your interests. Find groups online that you’re interested in participating in; find out if they have in-person activities and make it a point to at least attend one get together.

6. Past Experiences

Past negative social experiences or rejections can create a belief that people won’t like you in the future.

How to fix it: Consider seeking therapy to process past traumas and develop strategies for building healthier social connections. And don’t worry: we all have been in awkward situations before. You are not less of an enjoyable person to be around because of negative interactions or experiences.

7. High Expectations

Unrealistically high expectations of social relationships can lead to disappointment and the feeling that nobody likes you.

How to fix it: Adjust your expectations and focus on building genuine, meaningful connections rather than seeking constant validation. Imagine the best possible outcome happening, but don’t make it so unrealistic that you’re disappointed in the result.

Remember that improving your social connections takes time and effort. Be patient with yourself. It’s essential to remember that you’re in a state of growth and development, and it’s ok if you’re not currently seeing the results you want to see. Seek professional help when necessary; there’s nothing wrong with a little bit of support. Building healthy relationships often involves a combination of self-improvement and finding like-minded individuals who appreciate and value you for who you are.

You are loved. You are worth it. You can do it.