‘Embarrassing myself on purpose is liberating’ | Manchester News

A “so shy” woman who has been purposely embarrassing herself in public to try to overcome her social anxiety said it had “changed her life”.

TikToker Sophie Jones, 23, has been documenting her experiences with so-called rejection therapy, when someone purposely seeks knock-backs to build their confidence and combat their fear of being rebuffed, and has amassed 350,000 followers.

She has gone to the supermarket wearing a wedding dress and even asked strangers to try on their shoes.

“It’s definitely scary but if you feel the fear and do it anyway, it honestly is life-changing,” she said.

The social media star from Warrington said she began the challenges after a devastating break-up made her realise she had a fear of rejection.

She said: “I just was holding myself back and thought, ‘You know what, this challenge makes my skin crawl’.

“So I thought if it makes my skin crawl that much then you clearly have a fear of rejection so give it a go.”

She said it had increased her confidence and her whole perspective had changed.

“I just see life more as like a playground and we don’t have to stay caged in this invisible box,” she said.

“We’re allowed to just be free.”

Professor of Counselling Psychology at University of Manchester, Terry Hanley, said rejection therapy was not something a professional would be trained in but said it could have some roots in behavioural psychology.

He said some might report benefits but warned there could be safety issues.

Mr Hanley said: “Going up to strangers or shouting things on trains might not be the most sensible of activities.

“Therapists talk about creating a ‘safe space’ for people to explore. This has a contract and specific boundaries. This type of ‘rejection therapy’ does not.”

Mr Hanley said there were other ways for people to “generate an uncomfortable experience to reflect upon”.

“Joining things like drama, dancing or sports groups might be a safer way to feel out of your comfort zone.”

But Ms Jones said she would continue to carry out the challenges to show that “we should not care what others think of us” and “people staring can’t hurt you”.

“The amount of opportunities I’ve had that I never would have had if I hadn’t have just asked,” she said.

“Just by asking the question and by purposely seeking it, you become desensitised to it and then your life becomes limitless.”