Low self-esteem can lead to negative beliefs, mental illness, and harm to relationships. It often develops in childhood due to early relationships and perceptions of others. Healthy self-esteem acknowledges both flaws and strengths and handles stress better. Excessive self-esteem can lead to abusive behavior.
Low self-esteem generally occurs when a person does not have an adequate level of self-respect. People with low self-esteem usually feel insecure, despite the reassurance they may receive from others. They may find themselves emphasizing their flaws and failures, while downplaying their successes and positive attributes. They may harbor many negative beliefs in themselves and speak very negatively about themselves to others. Low self-esteem can increase your risk of mental illness, affect relationships, and harm your overall quality of life.
Most experts believe that low self-esteem develops very early in life, often in childhood or adolescence. Early relationships with parents, siblings, peers, and authority figures are thought to have a huge effect on self-esteem. Those who experience loving and supportive relationships early in life are more likely to enjoy healthy self-esteem. Those who experience rejection or abuse, both emotional and physical, in early relationships are generally considered to be less able to develop a healthy sense of self-worth.
The perceptions of others are considered vital to developing self-esteem. As children and adolescents, most people look to family, friends and peers to give them a sense of self-worth. People who develop low self-esteem are often those who feel they have failed in some important way early in life. Many people who develop problems with inadequate self-esteem feel that they have failed to gain approval from an important person in their life, such as a parent or partner, and therefore may perceive themselves as inadequate or worthless.
An unhealthily low self-esteem can have a variety of negative consequences. It is often linked to depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders and substance abuse problems. People who lack an adequate sense of self-worth may find it difficult to make it through school or work, as they often remain convinced that any effort they make will lead to failure. A low opinion of oneself makes it difficult to listen to or give credence to any positive feedback. People with low self-esteem tend to dismiss any positive feedback out of hand, as they are usually quite certain of their negative beliefs about themselves.
People with healthy self-esteem, on the other hand, are able to acknowledge and acknowledge both their flaws and their strengths, without placing undue emphasis on either. Those with an adequate sense of self-worth generally handle stress better and are considered less likely to succumb to mental illness. Experts also believe that it is possible to have too much self-esteem. It is believed that excessive self-esteem can contribute to violent or abusive behavior, as it can lead to feelings of superiority over others.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
