We can all lack confidence at times, but if you constantly criticise yourself, label yourself harshly, see yourself as low in value, or do not believe in or accept yourself, you may be suffering from low self-esteem.
Low self-esteem can become a self-perpetuating problem, as it leads people to predict failure, not try new things (and possibly succeed), and distort the feedback they get for their performance – only seeing shortfalls instead of successes. These effects can extend into all areas of life, including work, self-care, relationships and recreation. In addition, it can be associated with problems such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders and other issues.
Some of the signs of low self-esteem include:
A possible negative effect of low self-esteem is relationship issues. People with low self-esteem can get quite upset about constructive feedback or criticism and, as a result, avoid doing things or situations where they think they may be judged or compared with other people, leading them to isolate or withdraw from people.
Low self-esteem can also lead people to have body image issues, and substance abuse as a way to feel better or fit in a social group.
Building self-esteem starts with understanding where the problems developed. Following this, treatment with a psychologist can include working on:
