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 the notion that reflects our self-perception. When an individual possesses elevated self-esteem, they experience confidence, inner balance, and feel deserving of love. On the other hand, those with low self-esteem often grapple with feelings of shame and self-doubt. They tend to be self-critical, self-judgmental, and feel unworthy of love or admiration.

Recognizing Low Self-Esteem 

Individuals with low self-esteem typically cope using one of the following three approaches: 

• 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 individual to feel helpless. They often feel they have no control over what happens in their own life. They may play the role of the victim and heavily rely on others.

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

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Lack of joy in life
• Anger, guilt, sadness, jealousy
• Self-doubt
• Lack of resilience
• Loneliness
• Isolation
• Eating issues
• Codependency
• Self-harm

Treating Low Self-Esteem

The good news is that self-esteem is not a fixed trait; it can be improved by modifying your core beliefs, behaviors, and self-perception. However, it's important to acknowledge that many individuals developed low self-esteem in childhood and have carried it with them for a very long time. For this reason, seeking the guidance of a trained therapist is recommended. 

Having the support of an experienced and empathetic therapist can help you develop a healthier and more realistic sense of self. In short, this can be achieved through identifying the factors and experiences that initially led to your low self-esteem, then shifting the negative core beliefs and self-criticism that were a result of those experiences. This process aims to replace these negative self-perceptions with self-love, self-acceptance, and self-compassion.

Please reach out to me for a free consultation if you're interested in improving your self-esteem, self-perception, and self-worth!