Do you suffer from anxiety or depression? Do you often feel awkward and self-conscious in social settings? Are you constantly comparing yourself to others and finding you never measure up?

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 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 – 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.

Regardless of how low self-esteem manifests, the results are always the same:

• Depression and anxiety
• Lack of joy in life
• Anger, guilt, sadness
• Self-doubt
• 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 changed by changing your beliefs, behavior and how you think about yourself. Having said this, most people developed their self-esteem issues in childhood and have been living with low self-esteem for a very long time. For this reason, it is advised that they seek the guidance of a trained therapist.

Having a knowledgeable and supportive therapist in your corner can help you develop a healthier and more realistic sense of self. He or she will help you connect the dots in your life, discover where your low self-esteem came from and provide tools so you can absolve your negative beliefs and critical self-talk and replace them with self-love and self-compassion.

If you suffer from low self-esteem and would like to explore treatment options, contact our office today to schedule an appointment.