Self-esteem issues

Self-esteem issues is when someone lacks confidence about who they are and what they can do. They often feel incompetent, unloved, or inadequate. People who struggle with low self-esteem are consistently afraid about making mistakes or letting other people down. Having self-esteem issues can be detrimental to your health and negatively affect your personal and professional relationships. There are many reasons why you may have low self-esteem — your genes, how and where you grew up, and other life circumstances all play a role.

Signs:
- say negative things and are critical about yourself;
- focus on your negatives and ignore your achievements;
- think other people are better than you;
- think you don’t deserve to have fun;
- don’t accept compliments;
- avoid challenges for fear of failing;
- find it difficult to make friends.

Impact:
- Anxiety;
- Eating disorders;
- Emotional distress;
- Internet addiction;
- Panic disorder;
- Risky behaviors;
- Social anxiety disorder;
- Substance use;
- Stress.

Sources:

WebMD Editorial Contributor (2024). Signs of low self-esteem. WebMD. Retrieved from: https://surl.li/qawbha.

Self-esteem and mental health (2024). heathdirect. Retrieved from: https://surl.li/foyotb.

Cherry K. (2024). 11 Signs of low self-esteem. verywellmind. Retrieved from: https://surl.li/zawtdz.