Self Esteem Issues
Self-esteem is the opinion we have of ourselves. Having a healthy self-esteem, tends to make us feel positive about ourselves and about life in general. It makes us live up to our potential in school, at work, in relationships and it makes us better able to deal with life’s ups and downs.
If you have low self-esteem you see yourself in a negative light and are hence likely to underachieve, be afraid to go for your dreams, and stay in unsatisfying or unhealthy relationships.
On the other end of the spectrum, if you have an unusually high sense of self-esteem, you will feel special and are likely to have a sense of entitlement that others may view as arrogant and demanding. Some of these people may have narcissistic personality disorder.
Healthy self-esteem is associated with:
- Positive outlook
- Generally liking yourself
- Confidence in your abilities
- Ability to handle constructive criticism
- Awareness of your strengths and weaknesses
How does low self-esteem affect us?
If you have low self-esteem or confidence, you may hide yourself away from social situations, stop trying new things, and avoid things you find challenging.
You may feel excessively insecure and have trouble accepting criticism or positive feedback.
You may also have difficulty saying no to people. This may be because you are constantly overthinking about what others may think about you.
In the short term, avoiding challenging and difficult situations might make you feel safe but in the longer term, this can backfire because it reinforces your underlying doubts and fears. It teaches you the unhelpful rule that the only way to cope is by avoiding things.
Living with low self-esteem can harm your mental health and lead to problems such as depression and anxiety.
You may also develop unhelpful habits, such as smoking and drinking too much, as a way of coping.
Inflated self-esteem is associated with:
- An air of superiority
- Self importance
- Arrogance
- Feel entitled to special treatment
- Exaggerate their accomplishments
- A need or desire to be praised by others
Untreated self esteem issues are associated with:
Low self-esteem:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Drug abuse/ addiction
- Suicide
- Eating disorders
Inflated self-esteem:
- Violence
- Addictions
- Anxiety
- Mood disorders