Suffering from Low Self Esteem
How the Behavior of Others Can be Harmful to Your Self Image
Jun 10, 2008
What Is Self Esteem?
Self esteem is the component of a person's personality that dictates how they view themselves. One of the primary influences on how self esteem is formed is one's environment.
Environmental Causes
A great majority of adults can recall either being the target of the insults of their peers as children; or, being the one that targeted the other kids.
Those who were the instigators have, in all probability, shrugged it off as a part of growing up. However, for the victims of this practice, there are often deep scars.
Some environmental elements that may contribute to poor self esteem are:
- Harsh criticism from family and peers
- Physical and emotional abuse
- Social ostracism
- Unreasonably high standards to meet
Signs of Low Self Esteem
People who suffer from low self esteem often experience myriad problems in their adult life, for instance:
- Inability to meet academic and work standards
- Increased instances of depression, anxiety, stress, and feelings of worthlessness
- Difficulty maintaining friendships and relationships
- Higher risk of chemical dependency
Recognizing People Who Suffer from Low Self Esteem
It is virtually impossible to know who has low self esteem. Because the damage is done so early in life, sufferers have usually learned how to hide behind a façade.
People with low self esteem are typically adept at giving the impression that they are well-adjusted members of society. The truth is that they are terrified of failure and ridicule; and, often they are their own worst critic.
What Can You Do for Yourself?
People who suffer from low self esteem already know. It is really just a matter of modifying the way that they see themselves. This does not happen overnight. A good start would be to adopt some of the following practices:
- Take better care of yourself. Make sure to get enough sleep, eat healthy, start an exercise program, etc.
- Make a list of your positive traits and accomplishments. Refer to it whenever you start to get down on yourself.
- Remind yourself that you are a better person than those that have treated you poorly in life.
- Avoid people and situations that seem to have a negative affect.
- Request the support and reinforcement of loved ones. It is okay to confide in friends and family.
- Seek help from a counselor or a therapist. Just because a person feels the need to speak with a professional does not make them a failure!
What Can You Do to Help Others?
If you believe that someone in your life suffers from poor self esteem, they may withdrawal from you if you try to talk to them about it. However, actions do speak leaps and bounds!
- Always treat others in the same fashion that you expect to be treated
- Pay them a genuine compliment
- Tell them how thankful you are that they are in your life
- Praise them for their accomplishments
- Give them a hug for no reason at all
- Make it your practice to never insult anyone, especially out of anger
With very little effort, you could change someone's life profoundly!
