It likely feels that way, but it is rarely true that everyone hates you. Low mood or anxiety can distort how we read others, and talking with a trusted friend or counselor can help.
It can feel true
Feeling that everyone dislikes you is a painful thought, and it’s rarely accurate. Depression, anxiety, loneliness and social anxiety can make neutral things look hostile. This is called a cognitive distortion (mind reading).
What can help
- Write the evidence for and against the thought.
- Ask a trusted person how they see it.
- Reach out to one person.
- Therapy, especially cognitive behavioral therapy, has good evidence.
- Sleep, movement and daylight.
If bullying is happening
Document it, tell a trusted adult or HR, and seek support.
If you feel unsafe
If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the US) or your local emergency number.
Outside the US
Find a helpline at findahelpline.com.
It can feel true
Feeling that everybody hates you is common during stress, depression, social anxiety or after being rejected. The thought often feels completely true, but it is a feeling, not a fact. The brain tends to focus on negative signals when under stress, a pattern called negativity bias. Depression and anxiety can distort how you read facial expressions and tone, making neutral comments seem hostile.
Common sources
- Depression and anxiety, which cause negative interpretations.
- Social anxiety, when fear of judgment makes you withdraw.
- Real conflict, a falling out with a friend group or a new school or job.
- Being bullied or excluded online or in person.
- A history of rejection or trauma that taught the brain to expect it.
- Comparison on social media, where others appear to be thriving.
- Low self-esteem, which makes you assume others see you the way you see yourself.
What can help
- Check the evidence: write down who actually said or did something unkind, and who has been kind to you. Often there are more positive connections than expected.
- Reach out to one trusted person, such as a friend, relative, teacher or counselor, and say how you feel.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in treating negative thought patterns, with success in about 50% to 75% of people with depression or anxiety.
- Join an activity or group around an interest, which lets friendships form naturally.
- Sleep, exercise and time outdoors improve mood.
- Limit social media time if it makes you feel worse.
- Practice small kindness toward others, which builds connection.
If bullying is happening
Bullying is common: about 1 in 5 US students aged 12 to 18 report being bullied, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Save messages and screenshots, tell a trusted adult, report it to the school or platform, and know it is not your fault. The StopBullying.gov site has guidance.
If you feel unsafe
If you have thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life, call or text 988 in the US, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day. Text HOME to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line. In immediate danger, call 911.
Outside the US
Find a helpline in your country at findahelpline.com. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans is available at 116 123. You are not alone, and these feelings can change with support.
Mental health and social support facts
Feeling rejected or disliked is common, and loneliness affects about 1 in 2 US adults according to a 2023 US Surgeon General advisory. Anxiety and depression can distort how we read other people, a pattern called negative interpretation bias, making neutral expressions look hostile. Therapy methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teach people to test those thoughts against evidence. Joining groups with shared interests, volunteering, and practicing small repeated social contact build real connection over weeks. If these feelings last more than two weeks with low mood, sleep changes or hopelessness, talk with a doctor or therapist. In the US, you can call or text 988 at any time for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are in distress.
Based on data from the US Surgeon General and the National Institute of Mental Health
