Self-esteem refers to the overall evaluation of a person about his or her self-worth. This personality trait was developed from childhood and may affect an individual’s social interactions and relationships, behaviors, as well as his general well-being. Low self-esteem refers to the condition wherein a person has a feeling that he is a failure and also lacks confidence, especially when it comes to social relationships. Individuals who have low self-esteem are more likely to show dependence and are not assertive. They also tend to put on the blame to others for the problems that they are experiencing, easily lose their temper, and may have a distorted body image.
Low self-esteem can start from childhood, due to a number of factors and negative experiences that the person encounters. Some examples of these include physical abuse, sexual abuse, too much criticism, lack of love or a sense of safety, physical appearance that is viewed as undesirable, as well as life events that are traumatic. There are also adverse events experienced by adults, which may lead to low self-esteem, including marital problems (eg., divorce), health issues, unemployment, psychological trauma, as well as financial difficulties.
Individuals who have low levels of self-esteem usually exhibit symptoms such as low self-confidence and poor social skills, which may lead them to isolate themselves. These people also find it difficult to communicate what they want or to give their own views and opinions. They are negative thinkers and experience difficulties in terms of dealing with criticisms.
Some of the psychological conditions which are associated with low self-esteem include depression, eating disorder s, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse. An example of anxiety disorder is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and substance abuse involves alcoholism and drug dependency. Low self-esteem can be diagnosed by a mental health care professional with the use of psychological tests. Moreover, it is also important to take into consideration the underlying causes of this condition.
