- Self-esteem is the way we feel about ourselves. Almost everyone struggles with issues around self-esteem but it involves different areas of our identities depending on the individual.
What Causes Low Self-Esteem?
- There are an infinite number of issues that contribute to low self-esteem, but some common ones are body image, academic achievement, job performance, social confidence, and, of course, how a person was raised and what their childhood was like. Unfortunately, childhood emotional challenges tend to stay with us, but can be identified and addressed in therapy.
Symptoms of Low Self-Esteem/What Does Low Self-Esteem Look Like?
- Persistent feelings of worthlessness or inadequacy
- Perseverating on self-critical thoughts or negative self-talk
- Difficulty accepting compliments
- Fear of failure, which may lead to avoiding challenges
- Comparing oneself to others
- Social withdrawal or isolation
- Oversensitivity to criticism
- Feelings of anxiety and/or depression
How To Treat Low Self-Esteem
- re many techniques and treatments to help individuals improve their self-esteem. Because it is such a common issue, it is almost always part of the treatment plan with my clients
- CBT or Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is a good place to start as most people have negative self-talk that can be addressed and challenged. It can help people reframe their thoughts and develop healthier, more positive self-perception
- Self-compassion training is another helpful tool for overcoming one’s negative view of oneself. This involves accepting imperfections and recognizing that everyone struggles. Journaling about self-kindness or meditation on self-acceptance can be productive.
- Mindfulness therapy helps people become more aware of their thoughts and feelings, without judging them. Body scanning, acceptance exercises, and mindfulness meditation are productive tools.
How Can Therapy Help with Self-Esteem?
- Sometimes, people are not aware of their unproductive negative thoughts, which are contributing to their low self-esteem. They are just aware that they don’t feel good about themselves. Therapy is a good tool to help identify those negative thought patterns and then challenge their validity.
- A good therapist can help individuals cultivate self-compassion, encouraging kindness and understanding, especially during difficult times.
- Building coping strategies provides practical tools to cope with feelings of inadequacy and anxiety. These tools help build resilience and manage stress.
- Therapy is also important so people can become more self-aware and understand the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that lead to low self-esteem. These can be overcome and replaced with new thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
- Exploring past experiences and traumas is an important and relevant part of therapy for self-esteem issues. For many, once they understand why they began feeling low self-worth, it is easier to turn those feelings around and improve their self-esteem.