Low Self-Esteem And How It Relates To Mental Health 

There are many potential reasons for low self-esteem. It has been said that we spend the last 60 years of life recovering from the first 18, but adults are certainly not immune from low self-esteem.

May 1, 2021

This past year has been trying for most – isolation, quarantine, losing jobs, businesses closing, and loved ones dying are just some of the effects the COVID-19 Pandemic has had on us. Under these conditions, people tend to have too much idle time to dwell on the negative and sabotage their self-esteem.

How To Deal With Low Self-Esteem 

Although low self-esteem is not considered a mental health problem, long term issues affecting your self-esteem can certainly lead to mental health problems. Anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders, to name a few, in combination with low self-esteem, can cause a person to develop mental illness over time. I am writing this on May 1, 2021, during Mental Health Awareness month in hopes it may bring more understanding, clarity, and empathy.

Determine the cause of your self-esteem challenges:

Do you suffer from low self-esteem and wonder about the source of your feelings of inadequacy?

Identifying the source and boosting your own sense of self can enrich your life in countless ways. Your social life, finances, and happiness can all grow as your self-esteem improves.

10 Causes of Low Self-Esteem

Peers

This is especially true during the school-age years, but can apply to adults as well. It’s natural to want to be respected and liked by one’s peers. Bullying, teasing, and other social-related issues can result in the loss of self-esteem.

Peers often determine one’s self-image. Children compare themselves with other children they’re around. Especially during teen years, the opinions of peers can be more important than family to the self-perception children form of themselves. So often, experiences with our peers can affect our self-concept.

Family

Some parents just aren’t nice people. Unsupportive, critical parents or other family members can harm a child’s self-esteem. This can then be carried into adulthood. If your parents were less than spectacular, remember that you’re not alone.

Many ways parents destroy a child’s self-esteem: comparing a child to siblings, criticizing a child’s inabilities, requiring conformity, harping on mistakes, not supporting ostracizing a child’s dreams and goals, too much control on a child’s life and career, over valuating a GPA, concentrating on the negative characteristics of a child, never praising a child, and demanding blind obedience by a child.

Previous mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes, but some people forgive themselves more easily than others. $hit Happens! Forgive yourself and move on, instead of dwelling on the past.

Negative recurring thoughts

Negative thought patterns over years and decades can create a negative self-image. That’s why it’s so important to say positive things to yourself. Avoid underestimating the power of your thoughts. 

Negative thoughts can prevent you from taking the actions to lead the life you desire. Negative thinking leads to mood swings and depression. Hence, a perfect environment for low self-esteem to fester.

Failure

Whether you failed to win the big game or land the big client, any perceived failure can result in a loss of confidence and self-esteem. Successes and failures can influence your mood and affect your emotional state and self-esteem in a negative manner.

Reframe how you view failure. Learn from your undesirable results. Only get upset with yourself if you continue to fail in the same manner. Change your approach if it isn’t working.

Unreasonable goals

A goal that is too big leads to failure. Ensure that your goal is challenging, but within reason. Getting too carried away increases the likelihood of a negative outcome and poor self-esteem.

Dream big, but set your goal with reasonable expectations. You are the only person that can determine how substantial your goal should be and you should ensure there is a realistic chance, given the circumstances, you are able to achieve it.

Body Image

Body image and self-esteem begin in the mind, not the mirror. Society too often judges people based on appearances. You might be doing the same to yourself. Strive to move your body toward a healthy ideal, but accept that everyone is shaped differently and change can take time. Females are more likely to suffer from body image issues, but males can also face challenges. 

Trauma

Trauma can take many forms: sexual, physical, or emotional. Self-esteem is often significantly lower among persons who have experienced trauma – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). If you’re suffering from the results of traumatic experiences, getting professional help can be a wise decision.

Poor academic performance

School has a social component, but it’s supposed to be about the academics. Low self-esteem can lessen a student’s desire to learn, ability to focus, and willingness to take risks. Poor grades can be viewed as failing the purpose of attending school in the first place. Ensure that your child has the academic support they need to be successful.

Media

Media puts forth images of success and beauty that are out of reach for the average person. It doesn’t help that many of those images are manufactured and inaccurate. Holding yourself to an unreasonable standard causes you to feel bad about yourself. If you must compare yourself to someone, use a reasonable frame of reference. 

While social media may help to develop friendships and reduce loneliness, evidence suggests that excessive use can negatively impact self-esteem.

Now is a good time to PIN or Bookmark this post, so you can refer back to it at any time. Choose your image below.

In Conclusion

Low self-esteem is a common issue. Understanding the cause of your low opinion of yourself can help to determine the solution. Everyone deals with low self-esteem days. But suffering from low self-esteem over a long period of time can lead to depression. Examine your past and find the source of your negative self-image.

Develop a plan for changing your feelings about yourself. Focus on the positive, let go of the past, and know that you are not alone. 

If you or someone you know needs help, there is someone available to listen…

If you find this information useful, please share with your family and friends.

Your Girlfriend,

My  Favorite Blogging Resources

These are resources I use, have used, or my colleagues highly recommend.

Bluehost – Although Bluehost is the most popular hosting company that WordPress endorses, it is my favorite because of all the wonderful features they offer their clients. They have the cheapest introductory offer that includes a FREE domain for the first year, and has top notch 24/7 customer service. I plan to use them again in the near future for my next site. Start your blog HERE today.

*If you purchase a Bluehost Plan through my link, I will be happy to assist you with the Basic Set Up for FREE. Email me a copy of your paid invoice/receipt at [email protected].

Tailwind – I have been working with Tailwind since I started blogging. They are the #1 pin schedule and so much more. Their wonderful features save you time and allow you to grow your blog faster. If you haven’t already, sign up for a FREE month HERE.

Canva – a great tool for creating custom Pinterest pins, logos, templates, and social media images. They have a FREE version that provides stock photos and graphics that you can start off with. Sign up for the FREE version HERE.

Elegant Themes – Premium Themes for websites. Divi offers a library of over 200 layouts to choose from, but I personally like to build my own. Either way, you can create a beautiful and professional looking website. Get your Elegant Theme HERE.

UptownDowntownGal – That's right, Hire Me! I am a Virtual Assistant.  I design websites and provide tech support on a freelance basis to help you take your business to the next level. Contact me at [email protected].