Side effects of low self esteem, We live in a world where poor self-esteem is on the rise. It has an impact on nearly every area of our lives, from how we perceive ourselves to how we think about and respond to life circumstances.
When negative ideas and thoughts are widespread — whether created by ourselves or by others — it has a detrimental impact on how we feel about ourselves. It also has an impact on our life experiences.
This can lead to poor self-esteem, which can negatively impact a person’s life in a variety of ways. Low self-esteem if unchecked may develop to mental health concerns including anxiety and depression, which can have disastrous consequences.
What, on the other hand, produces poor self-esteem? There are a slew of causes, but clinical psychologist Dr. Lars Madsen says it’s often traced back to abusive or dysfunctional early years, with consequences that can last far into adulthood. It might also be due to a series of stressful life events (e.g., relationship breakdowns; financial troubles; poor treatment from a partner, parent or carer; being bullied; or being in an abusive relationship).
We all know that life is full of ups and downs, challenges and successes. We are all too aware that there are several pressures in today’s society that might drive us to doubt ourselves. And, when uncertainty seeps into our brains, mantras like “I can’t accomplish that” or “I’ll never conquer this” become increasingly difficult to reject.
How many times have you thought to yourself, “If only I believed in myself”?
Dr. Kevin Solomons, a psychiatrist and author of Born to be Worthless: The Hidden Power of Low Self-Esteem, spoke with me recently. He said that our self-esteem system motivates us to make healthy, constructive, and adaptable life choices, but that it, like any system, may fail.
When things go wrong, our failing (low) self-esteem can lead us to make self-destructive decisions like tolerating mistreatment or harming ourselves (by using drugs, becoming promiscuous, developing eating disorders, or indulging in cosmetic surgery) or harming others (by bullying, cheating) in an attempt to make others love us or to numb the pain of our own worthlessness.
Any bad life experience or reaction might lead to self-doubt. We’ve all had situations where things don’t go as planned. In attempting to locate the proper tools to assist us through these difficult times, the world may feel lonely – everything can seem intimidating and even bewildering. We often give too much credence to the negative we encounter.
Side effects of low self esteem
The most significant lesson I’ve ultimately learnt through my own life’s struggles is that external events have the least impact on our self-esteem. It’s how we see ourselves and the events of our lives. At the end of the day, our journey is guided by our inner conviction in ourselves.
Are we truly certain that we deserve to be in a poor relationship? Do we feel we deserve to be assaulted psychologically or physically? Is it our low self-esteem that keeps us in these unfavourable situations?
We are all continuously confronted with problems and changes in our lives. We can learn that, while we cannot alter our past experiences, we can change the way we think about them as we gradually grow to trust in ourselves. As a consequence, we may alter not just our perceptions of ourselves, but also chart a course for a better future.
Read also: Signs of low self confidence
Read also: Ways to improve your confidence
