Low Self-Esteem: Signs You Have It, How You Get It, How to Increase It

Self-esteem is one of the most important components of mental and emotional health, influencing both how we think about ourselves and how others view us. Low self-esteem can be a difficult issue to identify in yourself, but it’s essential to understand the signs and take steps to improve it. This article will discuss signs of low self-esteem, how to acquire it, and how to increase it.

Signs of Low Self-Esteem

When someone has low self-esteem, they may display a series of behaviors that indicate there’s a problem. Here are some of the most common signs:

• Excessive negativity - People with low self-esteem often focus on the negative aspects of themselves, situations, people, and objects.

• Inability to take responsibility - People with low self-esteem may shift blame away from them, or refuse to take responsibility for their actions or mistakes.

• Feeling of helplessness - A pervasive feeling of helplessness and powerlessness can be another symptom of low self-esteem.

• Overly critical - People with low self-esteem may be overly critical of themselves and those around them, leading to a feeling of inferiority.

• Self-destructive behavior - Low self-esteem can lead to behaviors like substance abuse, binge eating, gambling, and self-harming.

• Avoidance - People with low self-esteem may actively avoid situations where their low opinion of themselves may be revealed, such as social events, meetings, and outings.

How to Acquire Low Self-Esteem

Low self-esteem can be acquired through a variety of different means, but some of the most common include:

• Childhood experiences - Parents, siblings, peers, and other important figures during childhood can have a major impact on the development of self-esteem. If these figures criticize, ridicule, or otherwise demonstrate a negative attitude towards the individual, it may lead to the development of low self-esteem.

• Traumatic life experiences - Traumatic events like abuse and violence, loss of a loved one, or severe personal failure can also contribute to the onset of low self-esteem.

• Mental illness - Certain mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety can lead to a decrease in self-esteem.

How to Increase Self-Esteem

There are many different ways to increase self-esteem, depending on the person’s individual needs. Here are some suggestions:

• Identify strengths and weaknesses - Knowing both one’s strengths and weaknesses can help to build a realistic idea of oneself, which can be an effective way to increase self-esteem.

• Positive self-talk - Replacing negative self-talk with positive statements can be a powerful way to increase self-esteem. Writing down positive affirmations and reading them each day is especially helpful.

• Celebrate successes - Identifying successes in one’s life and taking the time to celebrate them can be a powerful booster of self-esteem.

• Practice self-compassion - Treating oneself with kindness and empathy is an effective way to increase self-esteem.

• Recognize and express feelings - Identifying and communicating emotions in a healthy, honest way can help to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, which can in turn lead to improved self-esteem.

• Schedule enjoyable activities - Taking part in enjoyable activities is an excellent way to access positive emotions and foster positive self-image.

• Connect with others - Connecting with supportive, non-judgmental friends and family members can be helpful for improving self-esteem.

By taking steps to identify the signs of low self-esteem, understanding its causes, and learning strategies to increase it, individuals can start to make positive changes in themselves and develop a healthier, more positive attitude towards themselves and their lives.