What causes low self-esteem?
Low self-esteem can often begin in childhood. Teachers, friends, siblings, parents, and even the media send us messages about ourselves, both positive and negative. For some reason, the message that you are not good enough is the one that stays with you, and can become an ingrained core belief that you carry into adulthood.
Perhaps you found it difficult to live up to other people's expectations of you, or to your own expectations.
Stress and difficult life events, can also have a negative effect on self-esteem.
Personality can also play a part. Some people are just more prone to negative thinking, while others set impossibly high standards for themselves.
Self-esteem is the opinion we hold of ourselves.
When we have healthy self-esteem, we tend to feel positive about ourselves and about life in general, and this in turn helps us be more able to deal with life's ups and downs.
When our self-esteem is low, we tend to see ourselves and our life in a more negative and critical light. We also feel less able to take on the challenges life throws at us, and we can become fearful of trying new things.
If you have low self-esteem or confidence, you may hide yourself away from social situations, stop trying new things and avoid things you find challenging.
Living with low self-esteem can harm your mental health, leading to problems like depression and anxiety.
You may also develop unhelpful habits as a means of coping with these feelings.
At Castle Counselling Services we can offer you a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space in which to explore your self esteem, and consider on a deeper level what life experiences may have contributed to your current difficulties. As professional integrative counsellors we would work collaboratively with you by utilising person-centred concepts, also coupled with the use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Psychodynamic theories to consider the impact of your past.
