Verywell / Madelyn Goodnight
Lowself-esteemrefers to a person having an overall poor sense of self-value.
It essentially means having a poor opinion of yourself.
It can also play a role inhow you allow others to treat you.
Verywell / Madelyn Goodnight
Sometimes its signs can be fairly apparent.
Other times, low self-esteem symptoms are much more subtle.
Finding ways to gain confidence in yourself and your abilities can be helpful.
Acquiring and practicing new skills is one tactic you might try.
Because they have an externallocus of control, they feel powerless to do anything to fix their problems.
But comparing yourself to others can also damage self-esteem.
Upward social comparison isn’t always bad.
For instance, these comparisons can be a source of information and inspiration for improvement.
When people are left with feelings of inadequacy orhopelessness, however, it can inhibit self-esteem.
Social media can also play a role in such comparisons, contributing to low self-esteem.
Troubleasking for what you needcan be triggered by feeling embarrassed.
Or you may feel that a need for assistance and support is a sign that you are incompetent.
Because their self-regard is low, someone with low self-esteem might also feel that they don’t deserve help.
They don’t prioritize their own desires, so they struggle to assert themselves when they are in need.
They doubt their own opinions and may defer to what others think instead of sticking to their choices.
This can lead to a great deal of second-guessing and self-doubt.
This makes it harder for people with low self-esteem tomake decisionsabout their lives.
Positive feedback is often met with suspicion and distrust.
Negative Self-Talk
Low self-esteem causes people to focus on their flaws rather than their strengths.
When things go wrong, people with low self-esteem often blame themselves.
Because they fear failure, they tend to either avoid challenges or give up quickly without really trying.
Self-sabotageis a common way of coping with such feelings.
Lack of Boundaries
The ability toset boundariesis often established early in life.
They are also more likely to have a more positive view of themselves in general.
People with low self-esteem can have a difficult time setting boundaries with others.
A lack of healthy boundaries can create problems when others don’t respect a person’s space and time.
Trying to yo Others
People-pleasingis another common symptom of low self-esteem.
Pleasing others often involves neglecting their own needs.
Impact of Low Self-Esteem
Research suggests that there are numerous effects of low self-esteem.
Research has also shown that people with low self-esteem are more likely to be at risk for suicidal thinking.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
It might also make you more sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This can also make people with self-esteem issues more likely to give up when faced with challenges or obstacles.
Unfortunately, these behaviors tend to backfire.
Causes of Low Self-Esteem
What causes lower self-esteem in some individuals?
Instead, it’s more a matter of the purpose behind its use.
Physical health and appearance are additional factors contributing to low self-esteem.
For instance, one study found that having missing teeth or untreated dental decay negatively contribute to self-esteem.
Recap
Low self-esteem often stems from many causes.
Coping With Low Self-Esteem
Building or fixing low self-esteem often takes time.
Focus on Hopeful Thoughts
Spend a little time each day focusing onpositive, hopeful thoughts.
Notice the little things that you are good at and allow yourself to feel proud of them.
Also, think about times in the past when you made it through something really difficult.
Care for Yourself
Poor self-esteem can sometimes leave you feeling like you dont deserve care and consideration.
One way topractice self-careis to spend some time doing something that you enjoy.
Go for a walk, chat with a friend, or engage in a hobby.
Then, replace these distortions with more positive thoughts.
If this is how you feel, it can be helpful to work on accepting who you are today.
Self-acceptancedoesn’t mean that you don’t have goals or things that you might want to work on changing.
You dont need to be better so that value yourselfbut learning to value yourselfcanhelp you work toward your goals.
It can be helpful to think of yourself as you would a friend.
How would you treat someone you care about who was in the same situation?
Show yourself the same unconditional support instead of beating yourself up.
It can even make you more susceptible to mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
If you are experiencing symptoms of poor self-esteem, help is available.
Consider talking to a healthcare provider or mental health professional to learn your treatment options.
Raising your self-esteem may take some time and effort.
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