Academia has an odd way of making your worth feel measurable, by grades, publications, and whether or not you get into grad school. For most people, feedback or rejection is discouraging but manageable. While I often connect these feelings to my experiences with BPD, rejection sensitivity isn’t unique to one diagnosis. It can show up in ADHD, social anxiety, trauma, and even depression, basically anywhere our self-worth feels tied to being accepted or validated. For many, aca
