What is Self Esteem (What are the signs of low-self esteem)?
Self-esteem is how we think about ourselves and the value we place on ourselves. This comes from how we judge ourselves. Are we harsh on what we think about ourselves? Are we empathetic? Do we think negatively?
Self esteem is not the same as self confidence.
Low self-esteem can be seen as viewing oneself negatively with harsh standards. Signs that show one has low self esteem include:
Having negative self talk
Being overly critical of oneself
Having negative humor about yourself
Ignoring achievements
Focusing on negative aspects of yourself
Blaming yourself when things don't go right
Comparing yourself to others harshly and viewing them better than you
Believing you don't deserve fun
Not being able to accept compliments
Fear of failure, thus avoiding new experiences
Being highly affected by disapproval or criticism
Feeling worthless
Being aware of the signs of low-self esteem can keep you aware of the risks that unhappy relationships or serious illnesses pose to mental health.
- Written by Hannah
How does self-esteem affect mental health
Self-esteem may affect mental health in a wide variety of ways, the first of which is how it impacts different aspects of life that we consider important to us that then metastasize into detrimental effects on our mental health. For example, low self-esteem and its accompanying sense of low values placed upon the individual can result in difficulties with relationships and our ability to conduct ourselves in work or school (healthdirect, n.d.). Not thinking too highly of oneself can be seen as causing problems in those aspects of our life that usually are seen as fulfilling or providing a sense of meaning, as a lack of self-esteem translates into a lack of willingness to confront new challenges out of fear of failure or of further degradation of self-worth. In this way, it is clear to see how the refusal to grow from new experiences in our day-to-day lives now directly interferes with the preservation and improvement of mental health. Healthdirect (n.d.) asserts that because of said unwillingness to improve oneself through challenging or interactive tasks with other human beings (who may very well appear judgmental or criticizing), this leads the low self-esteemed individual to “withdraw from activities and people”. While this desire for isolation may seem proper from time to time, remaining so for extended periods of time can directly lead to depression and anxiety that only serve to further inhibit the individual’s desire for seeking help or improving their own sense of self. In all, a vicious cycle degrades mental health ad infinitum: the person who lacks self-esteem refrains from self-improvement through healthy interactions with others, and this action will only serve to damage their self-esteem even further to the breaking point.
Now, we can consider how exactly self-esteem can affect mental health by examining the aforementioned link between low self-esteem and depression. MacInnes (2006) sought to examine the relationship between the levels of self-esteem and depression among 58 participants who were diagnosed with severe and enduring mental health problems; among the key findings, MacInnes reported a significant negative correlation between depression and self-esteem. However, they also found that self-esteem scores were different among participants who reported different levels of depression. Namely, those who reported themselves as depressed had a lower self-esteem score than those who reported themselves as not depressed. While the difference is quite small considering the sample being composed of individuals with severe mental health problems, this indicates that even among those with generally low levels of self-esteem, self-perceptions of being depressed or not can actually yield real-life consequential benefits in raising self-esteem. This confirms the notion of self-esteem as being wholly reliant upon individual assessments of personal worth and value, and the results indicate that this is true even among those with severe mental health problems. Ultimately, the core conclusion is eminently clear. Low self-esteem is correlated significantly with higher rates of depression, but this does not mean that nothing can be done; self-perceptions can always be modified and positive change always begins from within.
- Written by David
Why is having a high self-esteem important?
High self-esteem entails a person having more positive thoughts about themselves than negative thoughts, which ensure that their self-worth is not reduced. Thus, having high-self esteem is important because one must always have an understanding of their worth as a person. Nothing, not even our own minds, can sabotage our self-worth which is untouchable! High self-esteem comes within, and we must be kind to ourselves in the process of increasing our self-esteem.
In addition, there will be less self-doubt and self-blame and more compassionate understanding of ourselves with high self-esteem. In turn, there will be better coping with “stress, anxiety, pressure” (Verywellmind.com). Self-esteem therefore builds resilience as one is able to deal with the lemons that life throws at us. Verywellmind.com sums it up very well with this quotation, in which having high self-esteem helps us “ realize that it's not the end of the world if something goes wrong, someone rejects you, you make a mistake, or you have some faults.” Self-esteem defines our perception of ourselves and also the world around us, therefore having high self-esteem is fundamental to healthy functioning in daily life.
Furthermore, there is also a link between high-self esteem and being well. Here at WISE, we understand the importance of being both mentally and physical well. Having a high self-esteem entails more life satisfaction. When you are satisfied with yourself, it changes your perception of yourself and also the world around you.
Lastly, to touch base upon why high self-esteem is important, it is also important to note why having low self-esteem leads to unfavorable consequences. Low self-esteem decreases life satisfaction because it is interlinked with having negative thoughts due to self-criticism, a need to be constantly perfect, not trying and experiencing new things in fear of being judged by others, a lack of coping in midst of difficult situations, and a neglection of self-care (BetterHealth). To improve one’s self-esteem is to show inner kindness towards ourselves, which allows us to have optimal functioning both mentally and physically.
Self-esteem is not an easy feat to curate. Although we can change our clothes, it is quite difficult to change our frame of mind. Having high self-esteem is not an overnight change and takes time. Nonetheless, keeping in mind the importance of self-esteem, one must be kind and patient with themselves. One must treat themselves as kindly as they treat others to allow their self-esteem to blossom which will in turn improve their perspective and joy in life. After all, self-delight is the key to a happy life!
- Written by Christina
How to improve self-esteem and self-kindness
There are many ways to improve and build self-esteem. The first one being “talk to yourself positively”; be supportive, understanding and kind to yourself. You want to treat yourself the way you would want to treat your best friend. Appreciate your special qualities and acknowledge the positives about yourself. It is important to remind ourselves about our good points everyday. You can practice this by making a list and referring back to it on a daily basis.
Do not compare yourself to others, you need to recognize that everyone has different qualities and is unique in their own way. One needs to accept themselves for who they are. You need to also stop worrying about things that you cannot see or change in the future. You should try to live in the present instead of worrying about the past and the future. Also, communicate how you are feeling, as well as your needs and wants in a positive, direct, and honest manner.
Furthermore, talk to a loved one or a trusted friend about your self-esteem issues. We all have been there one way or another; they might have some tips to help you improve your self-esteem and confidence. Read books on self-development or take a course in personal development; this can help expand your knowledge.
Lastly, be kind to yourself, it can sometimes be hard to not compare yourself and seek validation. However, if you practice the above suggestions everyday, there will be some sort of self-improvement. It takes vigilance and effort to replace those unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. With time, you will be able to establish new habits.
- Written by Hang
References:
Better Health. (n.d). Self Esteem.
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/self-esteem.
Healthdirect. (n.d.). Self-esteem and mental health. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/self-esteem
MacInnes, D. L. (2006). Self‐esteem and self‐acceptance: an examination into their relationship and their
effect on psychological health. Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing, 13(5), 483-489.
Vanbuskirk, S. (2021, February 24). Why It's Important to Have High Self-Esteem. Verywellmind.
https://www.verywellmind.com/why-it-s-important-to-have-high-self-esteem-5094127.