This article from wikiHow provides guidance on dealing with family rejection by building strength and resilience. It emphasizes that family rejection can be a difficult experience that brings about feelings of hurt and grief. The article suggests multiple strategies for working through these emotions, including processing feelings, journaling, using positive affirmations, limiting negative thinking, practicing self-care, and seeking supportive relationships. It is co-authored by Asa Don Brown, a Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience, and wikiHow staff writer, Madeleine Criglow.Here's a breakdown of the article's advice:Acknowledge and process your emotions: Allow yourself time to feel your emotions, and don't be afraid to cry. Avoiding your feelings will not make them disappear. It is important to be honest with yourself about how you feel. However, try not to dwell on these feelings for too long.Journal your emotions: Writing down your feelings can provide clarity. Use a journal to process emotions like sadness, anger, and shock. Writing can help you understand your emotions and rebuild your self-esteem. Also, journaling can help you recognize triggers by noting when you felt especially sad and what those days had in common.Use positive affirmations: Use motivational phrases to encourage a positive outlook. Repeating phrases such as "I'm worthy of love and respect" can encourage you to see yourself and your situation in a positive light.Limit negative thinking: Refrain from self-blame and reframe negative thoughts into positive ones. Replace thoughts like "I'll never be happy again" with "This is really hard, but I know I'll find happiness again in the future!".Reframe the rejection: Consider that it may be healthier for you to not be in your family's life, especially if you have experienced abuse. See the rejection as an opportunity to surround yourself with people who make you feel safe, respected, and loved.Focus on self-care: Engage in activities that promote well-being, such as eating healthy, getting enough sleep, exercising, and taking up new hobbies. Avoid using drugs or alcohol to cope.Seek out close relationships elsewhere: Build strong friendships and seek healthy, compassionate relationships. People don't have to be your family to be family.Communicate with trusted individuals: Talk to friends or consider seeking professional help from a therapist or counselor. A therapist can provide strategies for coping with your emotions.Set boundaries: If your family continues to treat you poorly, communicate that their behavior is unacceptable. Limit contact with them to protect your emotional well-being and mental health.Seek professional help: A counselor or therapist can provide specific strategies to recover and offer an outside perspective. Look for a professional who specializes in family estrangement.The article also includes advice from Asa Don Brown in the Expert Q&A section. Brown suggests processing the rejection and loss, staying connected with supportive friends and loved ones, and remembering your worth. He also notes that rejection can leave a person feeling grief and loss. It is important to remember that rejection isn't a decree of your worthiness and acceptability.

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