What is low self-esteem?
Self-esteem is the opinion we have of ourselves. Healthy self-esteem is feeling positive about yourself and life in general, this helps us to deal with life’s ups and downs. Low self-esteem means you tend to see yourself and life in a more critical light, you may also feel less able to deal with life’s challenges.
What causes low self-esteem?
Low self-esteem often begins in childhood. Some of the most common causes of low-self esteem may include:
- Difficulty living up to other people’s expectations
- Difficulty living up to your own expectations
- Stress
- Trauma
- Bereavement
- Personality type
Symptoms of low self-esteem
There are several indicators that you may benefit from counselling for your low self-esteem. Some of the most common reasons people may seek professional help include:
- Avoiding situations
- Avoiding people
- Self-doubt
- Eating disorders
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Self-criticism
- Excessive anger
