Self EsteemHow do I know if I have Low Self-Esteem?Low Self-Esteem, while not a diagnosable ‘condition’ is a very real and very powerful problem. People with low self-esteem do not consider themselves ‘good enough’ in a variety of ways. This can lead to constant self-criticism which can sometimes develop into other problems such as depression, anxiety, body-image problems, eating disorders....
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In deciding if this is a significant problem for you, it might be useful to ask yourself the following questions;
• How do you feel about yourself?
• Do you like or dislike yourself?
• Do you mostly approve or mostly disapprove of yourself?
• How comfortable are you in asserting yourself? Asking for what you need? Disagreeing or expressing a different point of view to others?
• How comfortable are you in saying NO to people when appropriate?
• How relaxed are you in social situations?
• How do you feel when you are receiving a lot of attention?
• How do you feel and how do you respond when paid a compliment?
• Do you experience a lot of sadness, anxiety, frustration, shame or guilt?
• Do you experience physical problems such as low energy, weight problems, tension problems?
Sometime low self-esteem is our primary problem. That is to say that if we grow up with a strong sense that we are not acceptable, then this will greatly affect the choices we make in life and how we feel about ourselves. Where low self-esteem is the primary problem, it can lead on to other problems.
However, sometimes certain events in our lives(unemployment, relationship problems, bullying...) or other conditions such as depression or anxiety, can damage our self-esteem.
• How do you feel about yourself?
• Do you like or dislike yourself?
• Do you mostly approve or mostly disapprove of yourself?
• How comfortable are you in asserting yourself? Asking for what you need? Disagreeing or expressing a different point of view to others?
• How comfortable are you in saying NO to people when appropriate?
• How relaxed are you in social situations?
• How do you feel when you are receiving a lot of attention?
• How do you feel and how do you respond when paid a compliment?
• Do you experience a lot of sadness, anxiety, frustration, shame or guilt?
• Do you experience physical problems such as low energy, weight problems, tension problems?
Sometime low self-esteem is our primary problem. That is to say that if we grow up with a strong sense that we are not acceptable, then this will greatly affect the choices we make in life and how we feel about ourselves. Where low self-esteem is the primary problem, it can lead on to other problems.
However, sometimes certain events in our lives(unemployment, relationship problems, bullying...) or other conditions such as depression or anxiety, can damage our self-esteem.
How can CBT help me if I have Low Self-Esteem?CBTCBT looks at how early experiences may have shaped our self-esteem and works to help people to identify their strongest and most damaging beliefs about themselves. Next, the person is challenged on the accuracy of these beliefs and encouraged, not just to ‘be more positive’ but to take a more logical, realistic and balanced view of themselves.
In CBT, a lot of work is done intially on ‘thought catching’. This is where people are encouraged to become more aware of their negative and self-critical 'chatter'. From here, participants are encouraged to challenge old, often unconcious, beliefs about themselves and others and to test out new beliefs. CBT works because it makes a lot of sense and it empowers people to become, in a way, their own therapist. When used properly, CBT offers profound and lasting change in a person’s self-esteem. |