Counselling Central

Self esteem is the component of a person’s personality that dictates how they view themselves. One of the primary influences on how self esteem is formed is one’s environment. A great majority of adults can recall either being the target of the insults of their peers as children; or, being the one that targeted the other kids. Those who were the instigators have, in all probability, shrugged it off as a part of growing up. However, for the victims of this practice there are often deep scars.

Some environmental elements that may contribute to poor self esteem are: harsh criticism from family and peers, physical and emotional abuse, social ostracism and unreasonably high standards to meet. People who suffer from low self esteem often experience myriad problems in their adult life, for instance: inability to meet academic and work standards, increased instances of depression, anxiety, stress, and feelings of worthlessness, difficulty maintaining friendships and relationships, higher risk of chemical dependency.

It is virtually impossible to know who has low self esteem. Because the damage is done so early in life, sufferers have usually learned how to hide behind a façade. People with low self esteem are typically adept at giving the impression that they are well-adjusted members of society. The truth is that they are terrified of failure and ridicule; and often they are their own worst critic.

What can you do to help yourself? You can read the full article by clicking here . How do you feel about the advice given in this article? Would you, or did you, find it helpful?