Low Self-Esteem and Effective Self Esteem Therapy
Self-esteem plays a crucial role in determining our well-being as well as leading a meaningful life. Self-esteem, in its essence, is the degree of our confidence, self-worth, and self-respect. Existing on a continuum, self-esteem varies from low to high and low self-esteem is often associated with self-criticism, self-doubt, shame, suppressed anger, and social isolation. Low self-esteem is often a symptom of numerous mental health conditions that include depression and anxiety.
Symptoms and Signs
Negative self-talk is one of the most common characteristics of low self-esteem. People affected by low self-esteem often look upon themselves critically and may experience a perpetual feeling of failure and short of success. The sentiments of low self-esteem are frequently perpetuated by constant comparison with others and criticizing oneself in a bad light. This series of negative messages are seldom true but the rigorous thought pattern is so thoroughly ingrained in the individual’s behavior that the person fails to recognize the recurrent frequency with which they occur.
There are multiple experiences and conditions connected with the issue of low self-esteem. They include social anxiety, codependency, general anxiety, depression, inadequacy, shame, powerlessness, emotional and physical abuse, and perfectionism.
Challenges to the Development of Self-esteem
Self-esteem is built and learned in childhood and develops into adulthood. However, certain experiences, during childhood as well as adulthood, may interfere in the process. These challenges include abuse or criticism from parents; little or no encouraging support for accomplishments, stigmatization for unusual behavior or appearance, race, even social identity; or dissolution of a relationship, perceived job failure, and a host diverse episodes that might force us to re-consider and question our value or worth.
Therapy can become vital to help put such painful incidents in perspective while enhancing the strengths to augment social support, hope, and resilience.
Boost Self-esteem with Psychotherapy
A therapy session addresses pertinent low self-esteem issues and helps an individual to recover a renewed identity with a stronger perception of self. Therapists will work with you to help you become more confident, assertive, and self-aware. Unlocking the ever-elusive feeling of accomplishment provides an enormous boost to self-esteem. And therapy actually helps people identify particular activities that instill competence and confidence. In addition, therapy will help focus on and develop self-compassion, so that the individual can chart out more realistic and achievable goals.
Therapy builds self-esteem and encourages us to treat ourselves with the same support and kindness which we would offer to others.
