Treatment for Low Self-Esteem
What is Self-esteem
Self esteem is the sense of value and worth we hold about ourself. It reflects how we evaluate ourself and the overall opinion we hold about ourself.
Healthy self-esteem means having a balanced and realistic view of your strengths and weaknesses. Its about feeling confident in your abilities and recognizing your inherint worth.
How does Low Self-esteem Develop
Experiencing abuse, neglect and critisism
A lack of praise, emotional warmth, affection from others
Experiencing bullying
Faced with prolonged stressors
Experiencing traumatic events
What Low self-esteem might look like
Being self critical and harsh towards yourself
Minimising successes and attributing them to luck
Overthinking decision making
Imposter Syndrome
Difficulty saying no and setting healthy boundaries
Setting extremely high standards for yourself
People Pleasing
Avoiding sharing opinions
Self doubt
Perfectionism
Frequently comparing yourself to others
Staying in toxic relationships
Avoiding trying new things for fear of failure
Believing you are a bad person, not good enough, unloveable
How to Build Healthy Self-esteem
Practicing self compassion
Challenging negative self talk
Establishing healthy boundaries
Setting realistic goals
surrounding yourself with supportive relationships
Practicing self care
How CBT can Help
Develop self awareness of your negative thoughts and behavioural responses
Gain a deeper understanding of the meaning you attach to situations and the hidden beliefs you hold about yourself
Understand the function of your behavioural responses and ways to adapt your behaviour to build confidence and self belief
Learn to catch negative self talk and practice self compassion using a range of cognitive techniques
Idenitfy limiting beliefs about yourself and learn strategies to shift these and develop a more balanced opinion of yourself
Understand the vicious cycle of anxiety, learn practical ways to manage this and increase resilience
Learn about the impact of cognitive distortions/ biased perspectives and develop skills to challenge and reframe these