How to Cure Self-Hate

Self-hatred, officially called autophobia, occurs when a person has an extreme dislike or hatred for himself. It's a destructive state of mind that can ruin self-esteem, relationships and quality of life. Self-hatred can develop because a person feels as though she is unworthy of anything, or it can develop because of guilt, perfectionism and depression. Taking positive steps away from this destructive mindset can drastically improve a person's outlook on life and overall happiness.

Instructions

• 1

  Control your negative thoughts about yourself and redirect your self-hating thoughts into more positive, self-affirming thoughts. It will take time to develop the habit of changing your thoughts, but through time, you will form a strong habit of redirecting your thought process into more positive mode.

• 2

  Accept love and care from others. Don't reject compliments, signs of affection or positive affirmation from others. Instead, thank the person and accept the positive energy.

• 3

  Find something that relaxes you and elevates your mood when you are feeling low. This might be a walk through nature, listening to your favorite music, physical exercise or cooking. Participate in this activity when you are stressed, anxious or experiencing sad or negative thoughts.

• 4

  Overcome perfectionist tendencies. Being overly perfectionist can create unnecessary tension and negative thoughts if you don't accomplish something the way you want it to be.

• 5

  Meditate on thoughts of self-love and self-acceptance. Sit in a quiet place and meditate on phrases such as, "I am a worthy and lovable human being," and, "I love myself for who I am and what I do." The more you meditate on these thoughts, the more ingrained they become in your mind and the more you will see them to be true.

• 6

  Forgive yourself and others for past mistakes that are keeping you from feeling good about yourself. Accept the fact that mistakes were made and there was nothing you could have done at the time to prevent those problems.

• 7

  Take care of your health. Eating unhealthy foods, abusing drugs, smoking and drinking can damage your self-image and make you feel bad on the inside and out. Get rid of bad habits one at a time to work toward a healthier lifestyle.

• 8

  Train yourself to start seeing the beauty in everyday things. When you are out and about, take time to notice the beauty of the nature around you and the beauty of the people you see. Reflect on this beauty and learn to appreciate it. When you start seeing beauty in everyday things, you will start seeing beauty in yourself.