Is lack of self-esteem bothering you?

Do you often compare yourself to others? Are you highly self-critical?

Living with self-doubt and low self-esteem can leave you feeling frustrated, angry and insecure which could prevent you living a happy contented life. Self-doubt is when you experience feelings of uncertainty about yourself and your abilities. It is completely normal for us as humans to experience feelings of self-doubt from time to time, whether it be when taking a test or starting a new university or a new job.  At some level self-doubt in certain situations can actually be healthy.  However, if self-doubt significantly impacts your daily life, it is probably a good idea to seek support from a therapist or mental health counsellor.

Self- doubt is how we value and perceive ourselves. For teenagers this may look like the constant fear of what others are thinking about them. In adults’ self-doubt manifests in various ways which may lead to difficulty in making decisions, a tendency to overthink,  lack of self-esteem, overthinking etc.

You may find self-doubt and low self-esteem often makes it difficult to socialise which leads to feelings of isolation and loneliness. This can often lead to self-sabotage when the imposter syndrome creeps in. Research indicates that imposter syndrome often accompanies depression and high functioning anxiety.

Self-doubt and low self-esteem can affect our sense of self-worth and our ability to express openly:

Causes of low self-esteem could include:

• ·       Negative self-talk while we hyper focus on flaws.

• ·       Comparing yourself to others in form of beauty, success.

• ·       Childhood experiences: abuse, severe criticism, neglect

• ·       Previous relationships: past toxic relationship

• ·       Past traumas: rejection, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, violence

Signs of low self-esteem include

• ·       Constantly seeking validation

• ·       Fear of failure

• ·       Avoiding social gatherings

• ·       Being highly self-critical

Counselling can help you unpack some of these thoughts, which cause stress and anxiety. During counselling for low self-esteem, I work with you on your critical inner voice to help you improve your capacity to be appreciative of yourself with self-compassion and empathy.

Therapy provides a nurturing environment for you to explore the underlying roots, build resilience and help develop strategies for building a better version of yourself.