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Having a low self-esteem is something many people of all ages deal with. While a low self-esteem is not considered a mental health condition itself, the way we think about ourselves directly impacts our mental health and overall well-being.

What is Self-Esteem?

Self-esteem refers to the way people feel about themselves. Someone with a healthy or high self-esteem thinks positively about themselves and their abilities. They believe they are deserving of respect and have no problems setting healthy boundaries.

Individuals with low self-esteem do not feel very good about themselves. They constantly measure themselves against others and always come up short. They may not think they are worthy of love and respect and will typically not set healthy boundaries, allowing others to take advantage of them.

How Does a Low Self-Esteem Affect Mental Health?

The following are some ways a low self-esteem can impact a person’s mental health:

Poor Relationships 

Human beings are wired for connections. But when we have low self-esteem, we tend to not put ourselves “out there” socially and even tend to isolate, which can lead to poor relationships and loneliness.

Addiction

Studies have indicated low self-esteem in childhood can lead to addictions later in life. Many addicts use alcohol and other substances as a way to cope with negative feelings about themselves.

Depression and Anxiety

Living with low self-esteem day after day, week after week, can very much take its toll and eventually lead to the development of depression and anxiety.

How to Build Your Self-Esteem

Building self-esteem is important for mental health and to live a happy life. But it’s not necessarily easy to do it. It’s not like losing weight where you can say I am going to eat less and move more.

That is why I recommend working with a trained therapist who specializes in helping people build their self-esteem. A therapist can help you identify your core negative beliefs and determine where they came from. He or she can then help you develop a new, realistic self-esteem that reflects who you truly are.

If you or someone you know is suffering with low self-esteem and would like to explore treatment options, please get in touch with me.

Grateful to have seen the sunrise this morning, and watched as the mist burned away in the pasture. There is such simple beauty in the world, still. There is such wonder for those with eyes to see and the courage to open their hearts to it. Grateful for my expansive heart; it was hard-earned over this lifetime and I am proud to wear it on my sleeve. Grateful for my life.

Gratitude Journal: Grateful for good people who “get” me. Life would be very lonely without them — my friends, colleagues, and confidantes. Grateful for the natural world, because I find peace and tranquility there. Grateful for horses and goats and guinea fowl and dogs and cats and deer; they bring me unconditional love and also teach me acceptance. Grateful for my husband, who loves me and teaches me patience, too. Grateful for water, to bathe, to wash, to swim, to float, to drink, to sit beside and absorb good vibes. Water is life. Grateful for the “travel taco” (burrito). Grateful for the ability to start learning about many cultures through partaking of their delicious food (watching David Chang lately). Grateful that I am not being bombed or displaced by war, and wish everyone in the world could say that. Grateful for my sadness, because it helps me honor and cherish what I have lost. Grateful for my anger, because it helps show me what needs to be changed and gives me the impetus to work toward changing it. Grateful for my fascinating and precious life.

Gratitude Journal: Grateful for some time to read the news and catch up on some paperwork today. Grateful for my relative privilege and the ability/desire to use it to give a hand up to others who are not so lucky. Grateful for a platform to talk/write/share about things that are important to me. Grateful for the beautiful weather yesterday (I got a lot of things done outside). Grateful for a roof over my head, no bombs going off around me, and no one shooting at me (but I wish it was like that for everyone). Grateful for my comparatively easy life.