Why does it hurt so bad when you're friendzoned?

It makes you feel like you're not good enough to date or fall in love with. That they don't see a potential life partner in you

expectations, ego threat

If you think it sucks, you should try being on the other end. This girl I was talking to for a bit kind of freaked out over something I said, so I put her into the friendzone. Then when I told about a new girlfriend and she freaked out. Blocked her for six months after that.

Because you put all your eggs in the wrong basket...

the ending of possiblities.. the narrowing of options.. the end of most fantasies.. and on and on.

Never been

We value the opinions of our friends. And if our friends don't want to accept us romantically, we tend to feel romantically unwanted because we expect the people that know us best to be the most accepting of us.