A young woman who was 'crippled by a fear of rejection' says she has cured herself - by doing a series 'outrageous' challenges in public.

Sophie Jones, 22, compiled a list of of dozens of challenges to undertake as therapy for the phobia which she has struggled with all her life.

She’s so far managed to tick 45 things off her list, including walking into a lake fully clothed and asking to be given items from another shopper's basket.

Her favourites include challenging strangers to games of rock, paper, scissors and asking to make pizza in a pizzeria kitchen.

She said: "Doing things that terrified me changed my life, and my confidence has skyrocketed."

Sophie, of Warrington, Cheshire, said she experienced a lot of rejection throughout her teenage years.

By the time she was 15, she began being bullied by her peers at school, which she says made her feel "awful."

She said she became terrified of experiencing rejection and started shying away from friendships and opportunities.

She didn’t want to put herself forward for things like new jobs or friendships - because of low self-esteem.

Sophie added: "I was scared to make more friends. I felt I had no confidence within myself, I saw others with opportunities and thought why did I not have them?"

"I felt like it was holding me back. I felt like I’d lost control of my life.

“I didn’t feel like myself - I struggled with my mindset and outlook on life.

She became aware of her fear of rejection in February 2024 and began a treatment called “rejection therapy.”

The therapy is a form of exposure therapy in which people actively try to get rejected as much as possible.

And after seeing another woman online asking for a free coffee in a shop, decided to start her own "fear list".

Sophie, a social media manager, added: "It inspired me and also made me nervous.
“The fact that someone could put themselves out of their comfort zone, I aspired to have that confidence. I knew it was possible."

"When I first started, it was awful. The anxiety of asking someone a question would eat me up all day.

“I was scared of being judged. But now, I'm thriving and living my life to the fullest with less fear.

"I have always seen people dance and sing in the street and I thought they must have a strong mindset.

"I knew it was my next step, I've motivated myself and grown my confidence.”

Since discovering the method, Sophie has been working her way through her list.

She’s also challenged herself to ask a mattress store manager if she could sleep in one of the beds and asking for free petrol and even asked to slide down a fireman's pole.

She added: "When I asked if I could have my petrol for free the woman gave me a dirty look and asked why I would want it for free. It can be so nerve-racking at first."

As the challenges progressed Sophie found herself receiving fewer rejections which she says is due to her being more confident.

She has been able to make her own ice cream in an ice cream van, climbed up stairs in public on all fours and run into a lake fully clothed.

Now, she feels free from rejection anxiety - and recommends other people do this too.

She said: "I want everyone to realise they can do anything they want. The greatest opportunities are just around the corner.

"Anyone can do rejection therapy. It doesn't have to be anything big, it can sometimes just be just asking for the bill at a restaurant, you can start small."

For Sophie's future challenges, she wants to go on a walk wearing a shower cap and sing on a train.