Do You Really Have Low Self-esteem? Signs, Symptoms & Causes
"Self-trust is the first secret of success."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Emerson was so right. Regardless of how you define “success”, you have to agree that trusting and being confident in yourself is the first step towards achievement of any kind. Both of these things help you make and be comfortable with decisions no matter their size. Most importantly, it’s how you empower yourself to live your life.
Right now, you might be asking yourself what a person with low self-esteem looks like. Someone with low self-esteem can look like anyone. It’s what’s going on inside the person that makes them different from someone with average or high self-esteem.
It may come as no surprise that many self-esteem issues have their roots in childhood. These are the formative years for any person. What occurs during this time can effect a person’s assessment of themselves and the world around them for the rest of his life. Child abuse, parental neglect, parenting style and even genetics can lead to low self-esteem. But negativity in adulthood, including abuse, troublesome relationships, difficulty setting goals and the fear of failure can all contribute to low self-esteem, too. With all these different factors, it’s no wonder that the majority of people have or has had internal struggles with self-esteem issues and many are seeking help to overcome them.
But low self-esteem just doesn’t affect a person’s internal workings. Some research has proven that it can also have dangerous external consequences. Low self-esteem has been linked to delinquency, substance abuse, eating disorders, alcoholism, unwanted pregnancy, depression, violence, racism and underachievement. It can invite victimization and even make a person suicidal. Scary, huh?
However, for most people, low self-esteem manifests itself in shyness, trouble with decision-making, coping problems, an inability to enjoy achievements and activities and a distorted view of the self. Sufferers are held back by an incorrect view of themselves. How many of you battle insecurity and feelings of worthlessness? They’re all too common. The good news is that these feelings don’t have to be permanent, no matter how long you’ve been experiencing them.
I’m here to give you the tools to change yourself so that you don’t end up at the worst end of low self-esteem. If everything works out as planned, you won’t experience any self-esteem problems anymore. My goal is to aid you in reforming the foundation of yourself. We’re going to build our way to a healthy self-concept from the ground up using my lessons. To start, I’ll give you some practical advice on how to begin our project.
My next article is designed to do just that. Tune in for the next installment.
Let me know what do you think? Add your comment below…
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Comments on Do You Really Have Low Self-esteem? Signs, Symptoms & Causes
hey, i currently struggle w/ low self esteem and i have it bad to where i feel infeior in front of certain ppl. i know thats not he way to live, but i try i have a fear if i acted like myself ppl wouldnt accept for whoo i'm am or laugh at me. i just want to have enough courge to be cofident for once in my life. if you have and suggestion pls e-mail me
bye
@jennifer: I'm writing a research paper on indecision right now and it's amazing how much fear, self esteem, and, anxiety contribute to an indecisive individual(myself included). It's not called the power of choice for nothing: every choice will make a Change and we must take Responsibility for it. What I'm trying to say is: if you can make decisions and be happy with the outcome you'll be building your confidence- But, they can't be decisions based on what others want it Must be based on your desires and values otherwise you aren't reinforcing yourself to yourself. I hope that makes sense..
Start small though, I'm sure this has been a problem for a while and like many things, you can't expect to be rid of it instantly. Be patient with yourself but push yourself to do something you don't do every day.
I heard this story: this overweight individual had a hard time motivating his/herself to go to the gym and work out so one week this person put on their gym outfit walked out the door was done for the day. the next week this person did the same but actually walked to the gym but never went in. Finally after a month of walking to the door the individual joined the gym and got into the routine of working out.
It's easier said than done but all you have to do is Commit yourself to make a change-make a choice and follow it through even if it is only walking to the door every day.
I have incredibly low self esteem. Nothings ever happened to make me have low self esteem, my whole family exude confidence and self belief. It's so bad that I can't even look in the mirror without feeling repulsed, I cry myself to sleep. I abuse pharmaceutical drugs and stay in almost always to avoid social situations. I'm almost 17 and I've never had a boyfriend, I find it difficult to believe that anyone in their right mind would ever want anything to do with me and I push everyone away. I've been like this for so long and I know for certain that I shouldn't. If anybody has any advice at all or if anyone would email me or let me email them I'd be so appreciative.
@Kate: Hi, my 11 year old son has very low self esteem. He has been this way ever since he started school. He always says he is stupid, even though he gets good grades. When something does not go his way, he says its all his fault. He complains about everything and rarely smiles. I left his father 5 years ago because of abuse to me from his father. I have custody of our son and am remarried to a man that my son loves. But my son is worse after a visit with his father. He is very protective of his father even though his father is very negative about me to our son. I need some advice.
I fill like I want to die. I have no family or friends. I have been dark skin. I wish my life would get better. I can't eat or sleep I really fill sick. I want to throw up. Why do I fill this way? Screammiiiiiiinnnnnggggg! God please help me…..