What is it?
Low self-esteem is a feeling that most people experience at some point in their lives. This feeling may be transient and the individual can pick themselves up again and move on.
More deeply rooted feelings of low self-esteem are present when we cannot recognise our own value as a person. The signs of low self esteem are different for everyone. They could include some of the following:
- not feeling good enough
- not feeling likeable
- not feeling successful
- feelings of anxiety and depression
- making self-disparaging remarks
- unable to accept compliments
- difficulty saying ‘no’ to others, need to be liked
- comparing yourself negatively to others
- feeling powerless and helpless
- needing a lot of reassurance
- being easily influenced by others
- excessively seeking to please or receive praise or attention
- being withdrawn or uncommunicative
- being over-sensitive, taking things to heart
- blaming others for our own problems or failures
What helps?
I have had many years experience of helping people improve their self-esteem. Psychotherapy and counselling can help those suffering from low self-esteem and help develop a sense of self to ensure a more fulfilling life. This could include identifying and re-evaluating your negative self-beliefs, reviewing your value system, helping you to develop your own coping strategies and enabling you develop and build relationships.
In some cases low self-esteem could be as a result of a difficult past. This may need to be talked about, negative and difficult feelings and experiences worked through, to encourage a stronger sense of self and develop a stronger identity.
Self-esteem is the extent to which we value ourselves. Good self-esteem is important for us to function in the world. Our self-esteem is made up of how we value ourselves physically, i.e. our image, how we rate our abilities and talents and how we evaluate our successes and failures. It is about valuing and loving ourselves despite our human flaws and imperfections. It is about accepting ourselves just as we are. How can this happen? By taking the opportunity through talking about ourselves to a psychotherapist who will help you to relate more deeply and more fully to yourself .By improving your relationship with yourself, your relationship with others can also improve.
