Rejection hurts—but what if science proved you could soften the blow?In this week’s Rejection Section of the podcast Rejection Rehab, EMMY-winner Dr. Tom unpacks a 2020 study by Erika J. Koch showing how self-compassion—treating yourself like a best friend—can dramatically reduce the emotional sting of rejection and speed up recovery.

In this episode: 🧠 The 3 studies that prove kindness > criticism when facing rejection 🛡️ How self-compassion acts as emotional armor 📈 Why self-compassion stabilizes mood and self-esteem through highs and lows ✍️ The “write-to-your-friend” exercise that can boost resilience in under a minute 💬 Dr. Tom’s own story of failing his first med-school exams and learning to speak to himself like a friend

👉 If you’ve ever felt crushed by a “no,” this episode will teach you the science-backed way to bounce back faster and stronger.

Host: Dr. Tom — @RejectionRehab (IG/TikTok/YouTube) @TomFlaherty (IG) https://youtube.com/@rejectionrehab?si=oJdN8cIE7Z_dVPLo