Low Self-Esteem

Low Self-Esteem in Children and Adolescents

 "I believe I am a bad person, and feel bad about myself in general"

“When I look in the mirror, I don’t like what I see; I don’t like who I am as a person.”

“I’m usually down on myself; I just don’t like who I am.”

“I’m a nothing; I have no personality.”

“I don’t like myself because I’m ugly.”

“I’m not living up to the kind of person I want to be.”

“If nobody else likes you, how can you like yourself?”

“Let’s face it, I have low self-esteem.”

We all know that self-esteem can be an important part of success. Too little self-esteem can leave people feeling defeated or depressed. It can also lead people to make bad choices, fall into destructive relationships, or fail to live up to their full potential.

Self-esteem levels at the extreme high and low ends of the spectrum can be damaging, so the ideal is to strike a balance somewhere in the middle.

A realistic yet positive view of the self is often considered the ideal.

But what exactly is self-esteem? Where does it come from and what influence does it really have on our lives?

What Exactly is Self-Esteem?

In psychology, the term self-esteem is used to describe a person's overall sense of self-worth or personal value.

• Self-esteem is often seen as a personality trait, which means that it tends to be stable and enduring.
• Self-esteem can involve a variety of beliefs about the self, such as the appraisal of one's own appearance, beliefs, emotions, and behaviors.

 consequences of low self-esteem:

• create anxiety, stress, loneliness, and increased likelihood of depression.
• cause problems with friendships and romantic relationships.
• seriously impair academic and job performance.
• lead to increased vulnerability to drug and alcohol abuse.