Mental health and self-esteem: what is the relationship? – GOOD SHAPE

Self-esteem directly influences the way we live our lives. This is because it refers to a subjective assessment we make of ourselves, considering our abilities, characteristics, potentials and appearance. Having a healthy perception of all this is essential for us to be able to enjoy not only emotional but also physical well-being.

WHAT IS SELF-ESTEEM?

“It is the way a person reads himself, both physically and psychically. Self-esteem, basically, will always be related to two feelings: that of being loved and that of belonging. If the person has a feeling of self-love, if he values, respects and admires himself, he has a healthy self-esteem”, he explains. Janusa Silvériopsychologist, neuropsychologist and lecturer.

Considered one of the main factors for a person to have a more satisfying life, self-esteem directly impacts professional success, love relationships, self-care and other aspects of everyday life.

“An important point to highlight about self-esteem is that it can be different in various situations in life. You can see a person who is doing very well in relationships, but has low professional self-esteem, for example,” he says. Daniela Faertespsychologist and specialist in cognitive therapy and changing harmful behaviors.

SIGNS OF LOW SELF-ESTEEM

According to the psychologist, there are some signs that may indicate low self-esteem, including insecurity, seeking validation from others, fear of rejection, excessive shyness and difficulty in dealing with criticism.

“People with this problem they feel that they have less value than others or that they do not have good qualities. A feeling of failure may occur, as if they were in constant dissatisfaction with themselves. Sometimes, they are unable to put limits on others, whether with friends, family or romantic relationships, and may even be in unhealthy relationships”, adds Daniela.

CAUSES OF LOW SELF-ESTEEM

Low self-esteem prevents people from having a lighter and happier life | (freepik/freepik)

Overall, low self-esteem can be caused by many reasons, including genetic ones. In addition, it can be the result of situations experienced in childhood, a period in which the person establishes their first interpersonal relationships in the school environment and at home with the family, for example. Thus, it is clear that the construction of self-esteem depends on experiences in the course of life.

“The way childhood and adolescence were constituted is decisive for her formation. Children who have been loved, cared for, praised and valued are likely to have healthy self-esteem. On the contrary, children who have suffered severe punishment, sexual abuse, deprivation of affection and praise, lack of basic care, comparisons with other children or siblings, tend to suffer consequences for their self-esteem”, explains Janusa Silvério.

CONSEQUENCES

A person who has a negative image of himself ends up harming several areas of his life, and also tends to experience feelings such as sadness, loneliness and hopelessness more often.

In the professional sphere, low self-esteem can lead to missed opportunities, hamper leadership skills and cause low motivation to meet demands. In personal relationships, however, it can interfere with building a healthy relationship, contributing to the emergence of emotional dependence and jealousy.

It is worth noting that the problem can also be harmful to physical health, as it is a risk factor for the abuse of addictive substances, poor diet, lack of self-care and the development of psychosomatic diseases (headaches, headaches, back and gastrointestinal conditions, for example).

“Who has low self esteem you do things with more pressure, more difficulty, everything becomes a greater effort and this ends up affecting health as a whole. Nowadays, it is known that our thoughts, feelings and behavior are very interconnected and emotionses they are also physical”, emphasizes Daniela.

THE RELATIONSHIP WITH MENTAL HEALTH

A Dr. Danielle H. Admonigeneral psychiatrist, preceptor in residence at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP/EPM) and specialist by the ABP (Brazilian Association of Psychiatry), points out that it is common for low self-esteem to be associated with mental disorders, such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders , chemical dependence and attention deficit.

“A good part of mental illness has to do with negative beliefs that people have about themselves and their capacity in the world”, adds psychologist Daniela Faertes.

TIPS TO IMPROVE SELF-ESTEEM

Practice Self-Love | (Anna Shvets/Pexels)

There are some ways to make the relationship with ourselves healthier and more respectful. Check out:

1

Challenge negative thoughts

“Talk” to these thoughts and doubt them. Question whether they really make sense and whether there is evidence to back them up.

two

Start doing activities that you enjoy

Include in your life activities that please you. “Have you always admired and wanted to learn a dance? Go after it. If your dream is to go to college, go to college, regardless of your age”, exemplifies psychologist Janusa Silvério.

Dr. Danielle also recommends keeping those people around who really care about you and who make you feel good.

3

practice physical activity

Moving your body is one of the most beneficial actions you can do for your self-esteem. By exercising, you promote the release of endorphins and serotonin, two hormones that provide a feeling of happiness and well-being. And there’s more: because they involve goals and overcoming limits, physical exercises can also make people feel proud of themselves.

4

Beware of overuse of social media

“Follow content that will really add up to your life. Social networks tend to boast about money, happiness, perfect bodies and families. Most of these boasts are false. And following these profiles is not good for those who have feelings of low self-esteem”, reports Janusa.

5

get therapy

Therapy is essential to deal with low self-esteem, as it allows you to look at yourself in a different way, making it easier to identify your qualities, defects and potentials. So be sure to seek help.