Part 1: Low Self Esteem-What is it?

It is common for an individual to feel uncertain about themselves, lack in confidence or think about themselves in a negative way.

Self esteem can also be called ‘self worth’, ‘self image’ or ‘self concept’. All of these terms relate to how we view and think about ourselves. Self esteem usually refers to how we view and think  about ourselves and the value that we place on ourselves as a person.

Low self esteem is having a generally negative overall opinion of oneself, judging or evaluating oneself negatively and placing a negative value on oneself as a person.

An individual experiencing low self esteem usually has basic negative beliefs about themselves and the kind of person they are. These beliefs are generally taken as facts or truths about their identify and as a result, low self esteem can have a negative impact on a person and their life.

 

What is the impact of Low self esteem?

If an individual consistently thinks of themselves in a negative light, they may criticise themselves, their abilities and, they might not recognise their positive qualities. Someone with low self esteem may be unable to receive a compliment, they may always expect that things will go wrong and they may have difficulty speaking up for themselves.

With low self esteem an individual may  be unable to perform well in school or work, believing they are less capable than others and avoiding challenges.  In personal relationships people with low self esteem may be unable to tolerate disapproval, be giving of themselves to others and be less likely to stand up for themselves when experiencing conflict.

Addiction in individuals with low self esteem is common, as an individual feels they are not of any worth. The first signs of this may be in how an individual fails to maintain personal hygiene, hold down a job or commitments.

Other individuals may work excessively on their appearance ensuring every detail is attended to and not allowing others to see them unless they are perfect.

Why does Low self esteem matter?

Individuals with depression often experience low self esteem and Low self esteem is related to many other psychological presentations – panic attacks, anxiety, relationship issues.

Low self esteem can be a problem on its own, or it can be part of a larger problem. It can be influenced by life circumstances such as financial hardship, illness, chronic pain, relationship issues.

If ‘low self esteem’ is something you would like to discover more about, fill in your details (email address only) here to receive the weekly ‘self help’ workbook.