Self-esteem describes the way we think about ourselves. It refers to the value we place on ourselves as a person, and encompasses how valuable we think we are to other people. Positive self-esteem is important for our psychological wellbeing. People with positive self-esteem tend to accept themselves for who they are, value their achievements and have confidence in their capabilities.
All of us sometimes have doubts about our abilities, lack self-confidence, or have negative thoughts about ourselves. However, if you experience these feelings frequently, then you are more likely to have an issue with low self-esteem. At different times in our lives we may be more vulnerable to developing low self-esteem. For example, during times of increased stress, failure, or when things have generally not gone to plan we may be inclined to judge ourselves harshly. Adolescence is a particularly significant time in which we may develop negative opinions of ourselves. We often take the judgements we make about ourselves as facts, when in reality they are opinions and often don’t stand up to close scrutiny.
Signs of low self-esteem may include:
- Feeling ashamed, depressed or guilty
- Frequently blaming yourself and putting yourself down
- Lacking confidence in yourself and your abilities
- Being extremely self-conscious and fearful of criticism from others
- Avoiding opportunities, challenges and social engagements due to fear of rejection and failure
- Having a generally pessimistic view of life and feeling inferior to others
Regaining your Self Esteem and Confidence
Letting go of the ingrained feelings and behaviours associated with low self-esteem is not an easy task. At T G Psychology we can help you to identify negative feelings and understand how they have developed. We can help you to establish a positive view of yourself and confidence in your capabilities, enabling you to move towards a happier, more fulfilling life.