Signs & Symptoms of Low Self-Esteem

You may have difficulty opening up to others if you are suffering from low self-esteem. Low self-esteem can cause you to withdraw and seclude yourself from healthy social interactions. The more isolated you become, the more likely a domino effect will occur where your doubts and fears become magnified due to negative, irrational thoughts about how you perceive the world around you.

Inability to Focus in the Present

• Low self-esteem can leave you feeling down.

  Low self-esteem manifests itself through the inability to concentrate on the present moment. You complain or worry about past events or what may happen in the future. You sabotage your own successes by putting yourself down to others or quitting a job or an interest just as you're gaining satisfaction from it. You desire what you can't have, stating it will make you happy. Low self-esteem is often the result of feeling like the victim. You tend to blame others for what goes wrong in your life, rather than taking responsibility and changing the things you have control over.

Relationships

• You may find yourself building walls around yourself to keep others out as a result of your low self-esteem. You may fear being hurt if you get too close to someone or that you will hurt them. People with low self-esteem have difficulty putting their roots down and staying in one place. You may seem to be busy and may even overschedule yourself in an attempt not to look at at the feelings and issues that are causing you pain. You also may find you think others have more than you, are better than you or have it better than you. This may or may not be true, but your thought process keeps you from looking at what you are doing in your relationships to make you feel good.

Negativity and Addictions

• Negative thinking is at the root of low self-esteem. You may not realize you are telling yourself you don't deserve to be happy or that you aren't good enough. These are often the thoughts that paralyze you and keep you stuck in the negative frame of mind. Addictions can be to drugs, alcohol, food or even an emotion. This is a sign you are suffering from low self-esteem. The addictive substance helps you feel good in the moment, but once the thrill passes, you are left with the same low demeanor.

Solutions

• Listen to your thoughts and write them down if you can. If you find yourself blaming someone else, stop and ask yourself if it's really something they did or if there's something you're doing that you have the power to change. The more you are able to take responsibility for your thoughts and feelings, the more in control you will feel. This is a powerful tool in combating low self-esteem.

  Practice deep breathing to stay in the present moment and enjoy where you are at right now. Appreciate what you have and where you are. This will help you ease into a more positive frame of mind.

  Try to connect with someone no matter how difficult it may be. Try to remind yourself that others may have the same difficulties and you may be helping them to overcome low self-esteem as well.