Signs a Teen Boy Is Not Handling Rejection Well

Teen boys have fragile egos, so most don't handle rejection well. If a teenager loses his starting position on a football team or gets ignored by a girl he likes, he might sulk and separate himself from his peers. Rejection for a teen boy often makes him feel inadequate, unpopular and humiliated, so it can be difficult to recover when he receives a cold shoulder.

  1. Depression

    • Some teen boys show signs of depression when they experience rejection. Teen boys often parallel acceptance with success, so many feel sad and rejected when they feel like they don't measure up. They might feel depressed if they don't make a sports team, get bad grades, mess up projects or don't have the social or physical skills to accomplish their goals. Signs of depression often include sadness, guilt, fatigue, inability to concentrate, aches and pains and decreased interest in activities they once enjoyed, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

    Low Confidence

    • Teen boys who once thought they could conquer the world often lose their confidence once they experience rejection. This is especially true when a teen boy is rejected by a girl he likes or has a crush on. Rejection can result in emotional scars that take time to heal. When a teen boy's ego takes a beating, his confidence level drops and he often blames himself, compares himself to others and is usually less likely to take future risks, according to the article "How to Help Teens Deal with Rejection" in "Family Circle" magazine.

    Denial

    • A teen boy's fragile self-esteem can't handle frequent ridicule, rejection or humiliation. As a result, he might deny that he had original goals or objectives. He might say, "I never liked football anyway" if he doesn't make the team, or "That girl wasn't worth my time," if he gets shunned by a romantic interest. This type of denial doesn't usually pose serious problems unless it results in erratic or sudden lifestyle changes. For example, he's not handling rejection well if he throws away his collection of baseball cards because he was replaced by another pitcher, or he posts rude comments on his ex-girlfriend's Facebook page to cover up his sadness and humiliation.

    Anger

    • Relationship expert and author Dr. Gilda Carle says, "Boys often become angry since that, unfortunately, is the only emotional option that society sanctions for boys," according to DisneyFamily.com. Teen boys strive to prove their manhood, machismo and inner strength, so anger is way to deal with rejection without appearing weak or insecure. Minor outbursts, angry words and frustration are generally acceptable ways for teen boys to handle rejection, as long as the anger isn't leashed on a family member, friend or acquaintance. If a teen boy's anger doesn't subside after a few days, parents need to talk to their teen about his feelings of rejection or seek professional help so the anger doesn't become volatile or harmful.

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