7 tips for dealing with symptoms of low self-esteem and recognizing it

Many believe that low self-esteem is only related to physical appearance, but this is not true. This is a delicate subject and it gets in the way of many aspects of a person’s life. To delve deeper into the topic, we talked to psychologist Karyne Santiago (CRP 06/161451), who explained more details on the subject.

What is low self-esteem

Karyne explains that “when we talk about self-esteem, we are talking about the way each person sees themselves, within their individuality, characteristics and capabilities”. Low self-esteem concerns the negative aspects felt and/or perceived by the individual in relation to himself, the lack of self-esteem and difficulty in self-acceptance.

“It’s almost as if the person’s mind focuses only on the not-so-good characteristics, making them believe they are inferior or incapable, which creates a lot of insecurity and emotional suffering”, says the psychologist.

However, she clarifies that low self-esteem is different from times when we are not so well with our self-perception or self-image, or even situations that generate insecurity in everyday life. “Individuals who have low self-esteem tend to see themselves in a derogatory way regardless of the situation,” says Karyne.

How does low self-esteem develop?

The psychologist explains that the development of self-esteem, whether low or high, is based on each person’s life experiences, especially during childhood and adolescence. This is because, in these phases, the individual is still learning to perceive himself as a unique being from his relationship with the other.

“To put it more simply, a child or teenager who frequently receives praise, who feels welcomed in their family environment, who is not neglected, who receives the necessary affection and education, tends to have a better self-esteem than those who they are constantly criticized, who undergo frequent punishment, who receive a strict education, who undergo physical or verbal abuse, among other things”, says the professional.

Karyne also adds that these experiences can also change the feeling of self-esteem in adult life, whether in a romantic relationship, in the family environment, with friends and even at work. In addition, there may be impacts on self-perception in the face of the social and cultural idealization of some situations, as in the case of motherhood, marriage and beauty standards.

10 symptoms to watch out for

Now that you understand how low self-esteem can develop, how about learning about the most common symptoms of those who suffer from it? Check out what Karyne explained below:

• Feeling of insecurity: faced with the constant feeling of inferiority and inability to perform tasks, the individual often feels insecure in the face of situations.
• Excessive shyness: Individuals with low self-esteem tend to be extremely shy, due to insecurity. “They are more introverted people, and they don’t like to appear, due to the constant fear of making mistakes”, says Karyne.
• Difficulty in receiving criticism: even in the face of constructive criticism, people with low self-esteem tend to see the comment negatively, highlighting their weaknesses and defects and reinforcing the feeling of incapacity.
• Rigid self-demand: “because of the feeling of insecurity, the person with low self-esteem is always charging himself to do his best, and as a consequence of this, he unconsciously punishes himself if things turn out perfect” explains the psychologist.
• Exaltation of one’s own defects: “the person tends to make derogatory comments to himself, highlighting his defects and weaknesses”, says Karyne.
• Constant comparison to other people: always putting yourself in a position of inferiority or questioning yourself why this is so, in addition to highlighting the other’s qualities.
• Fear of rejection: Karyne reports that the person with low self-esteem “is always anxious to be in new places, or with new people, for fear of not being accepted”.
• Constant search for recognition: “people tend to try to please everyone around them, often putting themselves in a position of submission, for fear of rejection”, says the specialist.
• He is hardly satisfied with his accomplishments: from a completed task to a personal achievement, the person with low self-esteem tends to fault everything he does. “It is a constant feeling of dissatisfaction related to self-demand and the negative perception of oneself” completes the psychologist.
• Fear of facing challenges: “precisely because of the feeling of insecurity and fear of rejection, the individual has great difficulty in facing everyday challenges, such as starting a new job, for example”, concludes Karyne.

As we have seen, low self-esteem causes damage that goes beyond physical appearance, ranging from generating excessive shyness in a person, to making them feel inferior and afraid to face new challenges. Knowing all these consequences, let’s check out initial tips that can help those who suffer from this problem.

7 tips to help boost your self-esteem

The psychologist reinforces “that, before the tips, it is important to say that it is not so simple to change the way we see ourselves. Self-esteem is about a construction of self-perception, and there is no step by step to deconstruct the old vision and create a new one”.

Therefore, the importance of a psychotherapeutic follow-up, which will investigate the causes in a unique way and will help in the process of self-knowledge, elucidating individual issues. Karyne comments, however, that in this case, the tips act as an “alert” of behaviors and situations that may be contributing to low self-esteem.

1. Break the habit of comparing yourself

Recognize the beauty of individuality, no one is the same. “Each of us has strengths and weaknesses, strengths and weaknesses, and that’s amazing. When we compare ourselves and realize that we don’t have a characteristic equal to a certain person, we tend to think we are inferior to them, and we fail to see our own positive characteristics”, says Karyne.

2. Don’t be so strict with yourself

We are all subject to error and it is ok to make mistakes. Forgive yourself for mistakes, and don’t give up on yourself.

3. Develop your self-knowledge

Self-knowledge is essential for building self-esteem. Karyne comments that “when we learn deeply about who we are, what our strengths are, our goals and desires, we also learn to stop charging ourselves excessively”.

4. Don’t blame yourself so much

The feeling of guilt is closely related to low self-esteem. “When we feel guilty about something, the tendency is to put ourselves in a position of inferiority, precisely because of self-demand”, explains the professional.

5. Exercise self-care

Whether physical or emotional, value yourself. Perceive yourself as someone who needs care, love and affection and do it for yourself.

6. Try to focus on your positive aspects

Everyone has some quality, and in this sense it is important to emphasize that quality is different from a “superpower”. “Discover your potentials and capabilities and focus on them. It can give you back the feeling of security”, Karyne comments.

7. Walk away from people who bring you down

Although self-esteem is related to the view of oneself, some negative comments and criticisms can change self-perception. “Watch out for people with abusive behavior or unpleasant comments, and if necessary, stay away”, concludes the psychologist.

As the professional reinforced, these are initial tips for those who have problems with self-esteem, but it is important to understand that this is a delicate subject and that it is necessary to seek psychological help to treat it.

When should I seek professional help?

Low self-esteem can affect a person’s experiences, in addition to causing a lot of emotional suffering. Its treatment is based on self-knowledge and the development of a sense of self-esteem and self-confidence.

“For this, it is always recommended that the person seek professional help. Psychotherapeutic monitoring will help with important issues about self-perception and each person’s experiences, in addition to taking care of emotional health “, explains the psychologist.

In addition, Karyne ends by saying that low self-esteem may be related to some disorders, such as depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, panic syndrome, among others, which requires evaluation and psychological follow-up.

Low self-esteem is serious, so it is important to seek help from a professional to investigate the causes and have the appropriate treatment. Did you like the tips? So, take the opportunity to read and discover suggestions to practice self-love more.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. They do not replace the advice and follow-up of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, physical education professionals and other specialists.