How Does Low Self-esteem Affect Physical Health?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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You may struggle to help or empathize with someone else’s problems because you are too preoccupied with your own. Low self-esteem has been shown to

lead to mental and physical health issues like depression, anxiety, and anorexia

. It can also lead to unhealthy habits like smoking tobacco, alcohol abuse, or drug use.

How does self-esteem affect physical health?

Lower self-esteem, in contrast, is associated with

negative health outcomes

, with increased risks for depression and anxiety, smoking and alcohol use, and increased risk for cardiovascular and other diseases.

How does low self-esteem affect social health?

Social anxiety and low self-esteem reinforce each other. Avoiding social situations due to anxiety can make you feel alienated as if something is terribly wrong with you. And the worse you feel about yourself, the harder it will be to motivate yourself to socialize.

What are the 4 signs of low self-esteem?

  • saying negative things and being critical about yourself.
  • focusing on your negatives and ignoring your achievements.
  • thinking other people are better than you.
  • not accepting compliments.
  • feeling sad, depressed, anxious, ashamed or angry.

What mental illness causes low self-esteem?

Whilst low self-esteem does not make up a condition alone, in combination with other symptoms it can point to conditions including (but not limited to)

anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and personality disorders

.

How do you fix low self-esteem?

  1. Do something that makes you feel good.
  2. Stay physically active—exercise can help improve mood.
  3. Think about something you are good at.
  4. Keep a gratitude journal.
  5. Challenge a negative thought.
  6. Spend time with people who make you feel good about yourself.
  7. Volunteer to help others.

What are 3 examples of low self-esteem?

  • You’re a people-pleaser. …
  • You feel needy or unworthy. …
  • You struggle to build healthy relationships. …
  • You have a poor self-image. …
  • You experience negative self-talk. …
  • You compare yourself to others. …
  • You experience self-doubt. …
  • You avoid self-expression.

Does low self-esteem affect grades?

Self-esteem also can have a marked effect on academic performance. Low self-esteem

can lessen a student’s desire to learn, her ability to focus, and her willingness to take risks

. Positive self-esteem, on the other hand, is one of the building blocks of school success; it provides a firm foundation for learning.

What is the best therapy for low self-esteem?

Fortunately, there is a treatment that research has shown is the most effective for remedying low self-esteem. It is

cognitive behavioral therapy

. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the cutting-edge treatment of choice for most psychological problems. It is designed to be brief, problem-focused, and active.

What is the main cause of low self-esteem?

Some of the many causes of low self-esteem may include:

Unhappy childhood where parents

(or other significant people such as teachers) were extremely critical. Poor academic performance in school resulting in a lack of confidence. Ongoing stressful life event such as relationship breakdown or financial trouble.

What do low self-esteem people lack?

Low self-esteem is characterized by a

lack of confidence and feeling badly about oneself

. People with low self-esteem often feel unlovable, awkward, or incompetent.

How do I regain my self-esteem?

  1. Recognise what you’re good at. We’re all good at something, whether it’s cooking, singing, doing puzzles or being a friend. …
  2. Build positive relationships. …
  3. Be kind to yourself. …
  4. Learn to be assertive. …
  5. Start saying “no” …
  6. Give yourself a challenge.

How parents cause low self-esteem?

In the most severe cases, the cause of low self-esteem can be

childhood trauma such as sexual or physical abuse, disasters, severe illness or bereavement

. All of these experiences send a message to the child that the world around them is not safe.

What are 5 ways to improve self-esteem?

  1. 5 Ways to Boost Your Self-Esteem Today. The first step to success is believing in yourself. …
  2. Use positive affirmations in the right way. …
  3. Identify what you’re good at. …
  4. Learn how to accept compliments. …
  5. Don’t criticize yourself. …
  6. Remind yourself of your real worth.

What are the 3 types of self-esteem?

This study investigated the relation between three types of self-esteem and subjective well-being (SWB). The three types of self-esteem are

sense of superiority, others’ approval, and uniqueness

.

Should you date a girl with low self-esteem?

Dating a woman with low self-esteem

is hard

. … Having a high self-esteem will give you a sense of self-worth and confidence, which is very important when you start a new relationship. However, don’t think that dating a woman with low self-esteem is all that bad. Having such a girlfriend may give you benefits as well.

Leah Jackson
Author
Leah Jackson
Leah is a relationship coach with over 10 years of experience working with couples and individuals to improve their relationships. She holds a degree in psychology and has trained with leading relationship experts such as John Gottman and Esther Perel. Leah is passionate about helping people build strong, healthy relationships and providing practical advice to overcome common relationship challenges.