How can I convince myself that my friends don't hate me? I have this irrational fear that they actually hate me.

Sounds frustrating. Why do you feel your fear is irrational? Do you believe your friends don't like you? Or do you think they do like you? Do you believe the dislike is only in your head? Or do you think there is a reason you are feeling this way? Do you like your friends? Do they treat you poorly or imply that they don't like you? Do they mistreat you, or laugh at you? Do you think it's all in your head or do you is there a reason you feel that way? I am here to help!

I know exactly how you feel and the best way to overcome this is to simply say how you feel. It can be tough to even just ask but it really is the best way to help yourself. There are times where I go through the feelings that my friends don't care/like for me so I think it over for a bit then simply just ask in a way that makes me comfortable. 9/10 it's through text messages but if you have a good group of friends then they will support you. I have a really close friend who has been through a lot and she goes through her own anxiety and I support her through that like she supports me. If you don't feel comfortable to speak out about it then journaling is a really good way to let out your thoughts and feelings. I do it almost daily to just keep tabs on myself. I find when I write negative thoughts down I can tackle them and overcome them. I hope this helps.

Express this fear to your friends. You will be able to get it from them, and then since it's word of mouth. It's straight from the source. If they're good friends they will be thankful you came to them, instead of letting your fear dictate how you live and act around them. It may be scary at first, but start with the friend you feel closest to. I know the fear can be over-whelming but if you keep it all bottled in, it might start to affect your friendships. People dont often hang around people they hate. Good chance is, they dont hate you

I may not know you, but I'm pretty sure your friends don't hate you. I mean, if they did, they would not be friends with you, right? Because no one's forcing them to be your friend. And if you feel like they're only being your friend to be nice, I don't really think people would hang out with anyone they hate just to be nice to them. That would be a lot of effort. It might be hard to believe, but you have so many good qualities that your friends see in you and that's why they want to be your friend. I feel the same way sometimes, but I know deep down that they actually don't hate me. Sometimes your friends may seem distracted, but that's probably because they have things going on in their lives that they're thinking about. At the end of the day, your friends like you for who you are, which is why they talk to you. You have some really good qualities that they like, and don't let yourself believe otherwise!!

This is completely understandable and I myself have struggled with these intrusive thoughts. What helps me is reminding myself that they wouldn't be my friends if they really hated/disliked me. Another reminder is taking a trip down memory lane. I combat the negative thoughts by flooding my mind with all the positive ones! With the positive memories outweighing the what if's, I already feel better. Another technique that helps but does require courage is active communication with your friends. We all have different love languages, but we can all compromise to remind each other that we love them in a way that they don't have to question. So, asking for some reassurance goes a long way! This can even be met subtly by playing a question game or doing a challenge like an association game. Hope this helps! You are loved :)

This is hard, but I think the best solution is one that is both internal and external. Externally, make sure you have friend who treat you well, and if they don't, either distance yourself from them or discuss the issue with them. Once you have friends you support you, you have a great foundation that will allow you to do internal work without any stress. At this point, you should start finding ways to work on your own self esteem. There are resources for this on 7 Cups, but there are also many other resources and many ways of improving your self esteem. It's important to find a combination of exercises and activities that work for you.

Sometimes the best thing to do in these scenarios is to be direct. It may be a bit awkward, but open up about this irrational fear with your friends. If they are your true friends, they will be understanding and reassure you that they do not hate you. It will be a good way to test how well they support you by opening up to them. If you are not able to be direct with them and bring this up with them, it is also comforting to note that there are plenty of people to hang out with in the world. If your friends are spending time with you consistently, they clearly like you!

Look for positive signs that they care about you. When you are looking depressed, do they check on you? Are they happy at your success and joyful moments? Do they make you part of their plans when they hang out? If there is any sign of any of the above, then definitely they cannot be hating you and it is probably your mind playing tricks on you. Go on and enjoy your friends. You could even read the book - How to win friends and influence people, just to be sure you have some strategies up your sleeve whenever you are filled with self doubt.

Most times it just helps to talk to them about it. It's normal to feel that way sometimes at least for me. Maybe try to see when you feel this way the most, based on the situation try to talk to them about it and try to be very clear about it. Ideally, they would comfort you about it and you'll feel much better overall. Also, try to think about things like, if they hated you why would they hang out with you? Mostly this stems off of an insecurity, so if you can reach the core of it, you would most likely be able to figure it out. Best of luck!

Fear of acceptance is a very normal feeling to have. Also in another hand what makes you who you are might be why they are your friends. Too be is by a great writer my also be not too. If they already accept you why want, when you already have it. If they are your friends then simply ask. If you don't then you may go unanswered, until you see you worried for all the wrong reasons. If not then simply ask your closest friend about your worries. I do not mean to seem proud, but I do know friends will tell you the truth even if it hurts.