Self-esteem is a concept that speaks to how we feel about ourselves. When one has high self-esteem, they feel confident, centered, and worthy of receiving love. People with low self-esteem often feel shame and self-doubt. They often feel critical of themselves and are unworthy of love or praise.
- Recognizing Low Self-Esteem – Individuals with low self-esteem typically cope with it using one of the following three models:
Imposter Syndrome – These individuals project false confidence and use their accomplishments to mask their insecurities. We often find perfectionists and procrastinators in this group.
Rebellion – These individuals pretend to not care about what others think of them. Feelings of inferiority may often come across as anger or blame. Some may act out by defying authority and even breaking the law.
Victimhood – In this scenario, low self-esteem causes the person to feel helpless in the face of life’s challenges. They may play the role of the victim and rely on others excessively for validation.
Regardless of how low self-esteem manifests, the results are always the same:
- Depression and/or anxiety
- Lack of joy
- Anger, guilt, sadness
- Self-doubt
- Sense of victimhood
- A lack of resilience
- Loneliness
- Isolation
- Eating issues
- Codependency
- Self-harm
Treatment for Low Self-Esteem
The good news is, self-esteem is something that can be altered by changing your beliefs, behavior and how you think about yourself. Yet most people developed low self-esteem in childhood and have been living with it for a very long time. For this reason, it is advised that they seek the guidance of a compassionate therapist to break these patterns.
Having a knowledgeable and supportive therapist in your corner can help you develop a healthier and more realistic sense of self. Your therapist will help you connect the dots in your life, discover where your low self-esteem came from and provide tools so you can replace your negative beliefs and critical self-talk with a healthy love for yourself and self-compassion.