What is self-esteem?
Self-esteem is the way we perceive and value ourselves; essentially, it’s the opinion we hold of ourselves. This can be influenced by lots of different things, from past experiences and our childhoods to life events. While these beliefs can be misplaced, they can feel very difficult to change.
What are the signs of low self-esteem?
There are a number of different signs that you could have low self-esteem. You might exhibit some or all of these. They can include (but aren’t limited to):
- saying or thinking negative things about yourself
- being self-critical
- feelings of sadness, depression, anger, anxiety, shame or worthlessness
- blaming yourself for things that go wrong (even if they are out of your control)
- repeatedly joking about yourself in a negative way
- ignoring your achievements in favour of focusing on your mistakes or self-perceived negatives
- avoiding challenges due to fear of failure
- believing others are better than you
- thinking you don’t deserve to have nice things or fun experiences
- refusing to accept compliments
- feeling overly upset by any criticism, disapproval, or negative feedback
