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Do you have a nagging voice in your head outlining all the ways you're not good enough? If so, you're dealing with low self-esteem. Although it's something many people experience at some point in their lives, you might still wonder, "Why do I have such low self-esteem?"
Self-esteem counseling in Maryland from Rose Wellness can help you identify the answer and overcome distressing, critical self-talk. In our post below, we outline the most common causes of this problem and how to recognize it within yourself.
What's Self-Esteem, and Why Should You Care About It?
Self-esteem refers to your self-perception or the beliefs and opinions you hold about yourself. People often confuse self-esteem with self-confidence. The former deals with the value you place on yourself, while the latter relates to how confident you feel in one or more areas of your life.
It's perfectly normal for you to be critical of yourself occasionally. Self-esteem can drop if you frequently think negatively or judge yourself harshly. Common consequences of low self-perception include the inability to:
- Be kind to yourself
- Take time for yourself
- Assert yourself in social situations
- Value yourself as a decent person
- Believe you deserve and can achieve happiness
- Recognize and embrace your personal strengths
What Causes Someone To Have a Lack of Confidence and Good Self-Perception?
The answer to "Why do I have such low self-esteem?" differs for everybody. Below, we list the most common reasons.
Negative Self-Image
Did you know that you could become your own bully? This means when you have a negative self-perception. You'll constantly engage in negative self-talk about how bad you are or not good enough, even though the perception might not be reality.
Thinking negatively about yourself over time builds a solid foundation for poor self-esteem to develop. It creates a loop: the more negative talk you engage in, the worse you feel about yourself, which creates more negativity.
Social comparisons and body image issues are often the culprits behind negative self-image. Witnessing the impossible societal standards on television and social media and comparing yourself to them could make you feel less than others.
Trauma and Abuse
Physical, emotional, and mental abuse can take a toll on your self-esteem. A cycle of abuse makes it easy to believe that you deserve such harsh treatment.
You may feel unworthy of love and respect. You might also blame yourself for your situation and feel unloved or ignored, even though no one deserves any type of abuse.
Excessive Stress and Mental Health Problems
Do you suffer from depression or anxiety? These mental health challenges could severely impact your confidence and self-image.
It's incredibly difficult to see the good in yourself if you constantly feel hopeless or worthless. With anxiety, you might doubt your abilities, which can impact your self-confidence.
Societal and Cultural Influences
Society and certain cultures place high — and sometimes unrealistic — expectations on how people should look and behave. The pressure to fit in and feel accepted can be debilitating, especially if you constantly feel like you'll never measure up to societal or cultural expectations for happiness, beauty, success, and gender roles.
Childhood Experiences
People often develop low self-esteem due to their early interactions with parents, siblings, and caregivers. If your family was overly critical of you as a child or failed to pay enough attention to your needs, you might have grown up feeling like you're not good enough.
Unfortunately, those thoughts can linger as you age. Even bullying from your peers as a kid could leave you dealing with feelings of inadequacy and rejection as an adult.
Typical Signs of Low Self-Esteem: What To Look for Within Yourself
Unsure if you have low self-esteem or are simply having a negative moment? With low self-perception, you likely experience some or all of the following:
- Problems accepting compliments
- Difficulty making and keeping friends
- Frequently critical thoughts or negative speech about yourself
- Difficulty celebrating your achievements and choosing to focus on negatives
- Thoughts that other people are better and more deserving of happiness than you
Let Rose Wellness Help You Take Control of Your Confidence and Self-Image
If you ask questions like "Why do I have such low self-esteem?" after a relationship breakdown or another situation, you're not alone. This common problem can improve over time, but sometimes, additional help is necessary.
At Rose Wellness in Maryland, you can partner with a skilled and insightful clinician who can help you identify and overcome mental health challenges that affect your self-image. Our fully virtual private practice believes in nonjudgmental awareness, meaningful connections, and authenticity. For more information, call (202) 681-1348 today.
