No, the worst thing they can say is "EW!" which happened to me once.

If they say no they were probably always going to say no, and you were wasting your mental energy picturing a fantasy where they might say yes. What if your waiting to ask means that they wanted to ask you, but thought YOU might say no so they are in the same loop. Or they hadn't considered it at all, but would say yes if you ask. No one likes uncertainty, so remove it.

Them saying no means you can move to the next potential. The worst thing we do is create simulations in our head of a perfect match, when in reality there's lots of very good matches out there, possibly better matched in some ways than the one you're obsessed with.

It's not the one no that gets you. It's the prolonged, repeated NULL from multiple sources, hundreds of times that gets you.

The second best thing they can say is no

The worst thing they can say is "HELP! SOMEONE HELP! CALL THE POLICE!" While filming you and posting it on social media to their 150 000 followers. Thats the worst thing they can say.

My own psychological trick is to commt to get the "no." I decide I'm going to rule out yes. So if they tell me no, then I've succeeded.

I still feel dejected, but it works in getting me to ask.

As someone whose brain reaches for rejection sensitive dysphoria by default, you really don't have to let it devastate you.

Most rejection is rarely directly personal, and if it is, probably for the best anyway

Hence why I'm often of the habit of waiting until I feel comfortable and safe with the person before it gets to that point.

Granted, out of all the people I've been with, I have only ever asked one of them out. I'm aware that I have frustrated some people by not asking, but I was never at that point and if it was that important to them then they should have asked instead.

Right in my RSD

Yes is the worst since it requires a transition in state. Remaining at rest is often easier.

They could laugh

The transplant waiting list is feeling this post.

she said no and it was fine.

Me.