Book Online Counselling and Treatment for Low Self Esteem

Mental Health Care to Improve Negative Self Image

The first step to building a better self is acceptance. It is essential to accept all your traits, good or bad, and learn how to work on them. And it is only possible when you have an honest opinion about yourself. However, it might feel challenging to come to terms with all your flaws. But the most challenging part is to recognize your strengths.

Consulting a professional skilled in dealing with similar cases is the best option. A therapist is a reliable individual who can provide the necessary assurance, guidance, and encouragement you need. Different psychological treatments developed to target low self-esteem or self-criticism are highly effective in treating them. Which includes,

• CBT, or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Focuses on recognizing the pattern of beliefs and emotions.
• COMET or Competitive Memory Training: Focuses on changing the negative perception and self-deprecating thoughts.
• CFT or Compassion-Focused Therapy: Focuses on building compassion toward oneself.

All the therapy types functions on these bases:

• It lets you recognize your core belief.
• You realize the value of your life.
• It allows you to come up with beneficial notions for your growth.
• You gain the ability to question your pessimistic projections by finding the truth.
• You gather the courage to face your fears and how to deal with a tense situation.
• It lets you replace the sense of self-criticism with compassion.

All these therapy types function as a one on one sessions with an individual. However, in some cases, a therapist can even recommend group or family therapy sessions.

Major Causes

The most susceptible years to developing a negative self-image are the teenage years. The adolescent years are when the environmental factors shape who you are. Family influence, teachers, friend circle, and socio-economical conditions are to name a few. A person's childhood and upbringing directly impact their persona. Here are some significant causes that later manifest themselves in this condition:

• Academic influences: It is a common practice in schools to treat children based on their academic merit. A child's academic score is not a testimony of their potential. However, the schooling system continues to discriminate against children based on their performance.
• Punishments: Most parents love to preach about tough love. And being stern can sometimes bring positive results. Teaching children about the moral difference between good and bad is essential. However, when a child is regularly subject to punishments over trivial things, such as forgetting their homework or misspelling a word, it becomes detrimental to their mental growth.
• Bullying: A severe problem many suffer from throughout childhood and adolescence is receiving unexplained abuse. Schools are a breeding ground for bullying, where it is common to intimidate kids over reasons they have no control over. In some cases, there isn't even a solid reason for bullying. But the person on the receiving end of the hate develops a sense of guilt and self-hatred. Bullying doesn't always have to be physical; mental torture can equally damage one's self-esteem.
• Discrimination: Creating any bias over reasons like race, financial status, or academic merit can heavily impact self-image. Facing discrimination from classmates or teachers can impair a child's self-respect. Over time, it can even take shape into an inferiority complex.
• Gender and Sexuality: It is a sad reality, but children assigned as female at birth have lower self-regard than those assigned as male. Many people might even discover their sexuality during their adolescence, which puts them at risk of facing discrimination. Prejudiced social notions fail to protect children from sexual bigotry, which reflects in their self-regard.
• Body image issues: Social media and entertainment industries have created unrealistic body images. And especially teens fall victim to achieving the said body goals. Not gaining the admired body can fester into self-hate and body dysmorphia.
• Mental health problems: Low self-esteem can also have roots in underlying mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety disorder.

Common Signs

Although low self-esteem isn't a prominent trait one can display, it is possible to pay attention to some signs to look out for:

• Inability to handle criticism: Individuals with this condition are highly sensitive to rejection. Even constructive criticism can be unbearable for their image of themselves. It becomes impossible for them to separate opinions from their self-worth.
• Isolation: Low self-esteem often cultivates a sense of isolation. People usually avoid social gatherings in hopes of staying away from attention. Building a wall around themselves is typical, instead of talking to people.
• Confrontational aggression: Negative self-image often impacts a person's ability to function in a social setting. People tend to become small and shy away from any confrontation. However, they may show extreme aggression when confronted. Anger is a defence mechanism that has nothing to do with developing hostile behaviour.
• Substance Abuse: Those suffering from these issues often are susceptible to substance abuse to cope with their mental distress.
• Other disorders: There is a possibility that this condition can be a trauma response. A person's psychological and physical health can have a direct impact, such as eating or anxiety disorders.

Risk Factors

Low self-esteem can significantly negatively affect your self-image. And with negativity, there is a chance of several risk factors too. Some of which are listed below:

• Negative self-image: Developing a sense of guilt, anger, and hatred toward oneself.
• Evading confrontations: Lowered self-image discourages people from speaking up and taking a chance. This leads to a lot of missed opportunities.
• Dreading judgment: It is common to avoid any form of confrontation or conversation to avoid judgment. Although, in most cases, the negative opinion you dread only exists in your mind.
• Relationship issues: Your low self-confidence can be the reason why you cannot form healthy relationships. The illusion of you not being worthy of affection is hazardous. It might lead you to believe that you must put your partner on a higher pedestal than you to earn their love, and you might think any disagreement is because of your inability to provide love.
• Self-harm: Inflicting pain on your own body can develop as a coping mechanism to your value for yourself.

Building Confidence and Valuing Yourself

Building confidence and re-establishing your value is a long journey. It is challenging to dismiss your belief system and form new ones. But with slow and steady steps, it is possible.

The very first step to boosting regard for yourself is appreciating yourself. When you learn to love yourself, it is only then you gain confidence. It is vital to treat yourself with kindness and compassion. When you genuinely believe in yourself, you learn how to deal with people's opinions. It is impossible for everyone to like you, but valuing yourself lets you move on from such notions. It is not your duty to please everyone. If someone passes a judgment on you, remember that it is their projection of self-esteem on you.

Indeed, you cannot change your perception overnight. And it might even get challenging to find the path to self-love. In that case, don't hesitate to seek help. Mental health counselling can be beneficial for re-evaluating your worth and unlearning your negative beliefs.

How to Deal With Your Symptoms

When you work on your self-esteem, it is essential to pay close attention to your well-being. Remember to be gentle with yourself. You cannot change years of beliefs overnight. Keep in mind that positivity can be toxic too. The best way is to observe your emotions and try not to pass any judgment on them.

Here are some suggestions to better deal with your symptoms:

• Acknowledge any negative thoughts or impulses that might occur.
• Observe the thought and try to find where it came from.
• Accept the emotion as it is, and allow it to subside after a while.
• Be gentle with yourself.
• Establish a healthy sleeping pattern and a nutritious diet.
• Allow yourself to be happy after accomplishing something. Indulge in your favourite activity to reward yourself.
• Be the supporting and caring friend you are to others.
• Set boundaries. Learn to say no, and don't compromise your happiness.
• Pick a hobby that lets you move, whether working out or dancing.
• Talk to people. Share your dilemmas with friends and family.

Get Treatment From a Licensed Therapist Who's Right For You

There is nothing wrong with accepting that you need help with your condition. You are not alone in this fight; many people suffer silently from low self-worth. But talking about it is the best solution. Online consultation from a licensed therapist can be the most practical option. A professional skilled in cases like yours could help you with your concerns and guide you throughout the treatment process. Your self-image issue can be entirely different from someone else. Therefore, it is crucial to find the right therapist.

Schedule a Virtual Psychotherapy Appointment with a Counsellor Today

Finding a therapist and scheduling an appointment might seem daunting. But with DocVita, you can get access to choose a licensed therapist easily. We offer the utmost transparency and an easy booking process. Before booking a session, you can quickly look for reviews from people like you and get the opportunity to book an appointment from the comfort of your home.