You may look in the mirror and focus on your flaws, feeling self-doubt, uncertainty, even shame and anger towards the image that you see. This feeling may be so intense, that you may even despise yourself for not being the person that you want to be. While you may know this isn’t healthy, this is how many people feel.

The feeling can be awful. Worse, low self-esteem can result in other concerns, such as:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Risky Behaviors
• Substance Abuse
• Difficulty setting limits and boundaries

Low self-esteem can negatively impact the different facets of your life, preventing you from finding your purpose and from chasing your dreams. It can be hard to meet your goals when you are constantly doubting yourself or don’t believe you deserve to succeed.

Self-esteem develops early. Growing up in a negative or “shaming” environment can result in lower self-esteem which can persist into adulthood. It isn’t too late to turn things around. With professional help, your perception of yourself and self-image can improve. Counseling can make a world of difference.

The Nature of Low Self-esteem

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), self-esteem is “the degree to which the qualities and characteristics contained in one’s self-concept are perceived to be positive. It reflects a person’s physical self-image, view of their accomplishments and capabilities, and values and perceived success in living up to them, as well as the ways in which others view and respond to that person.”

Self-esteem exists on a continuum or in varying levels, from high to low. A person with low self-esteem may be more vulnerable to:

• Self-criticism
• Insecurity
• Anger
• Shame
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Health Issues

Being weighed down by low self-esteem isn’t just about feeling worthless. It can undesirably impact almost every aspect of your life, as it stands in the way of doing or accomplishing the things you need to. It can breed other problems as well. Poor self-image can leave you feeling inadequate in academic, work situations and in various social settings. It can also leave you feeling intensely pessimistic. Thus, you may be likely to doubt yourself and believe that you cannot achieve anything significant.

Feeling helpless and inadequate, there is also a high chance you will be overwhelmed by guilt. As failure becomes a constant companion, you may get used to thinking that it is your fault. This can cause you to blame yourself for every failure, fault and mishap that happens in your life even if they are not your fault.

Changing deeply-entrenched ideas can be difficult. If you believe you are without true worth, you may still feel the same despite your successes. Rising above whatever is causing your low self-esteem is possible. Therapy can help, but first you must commit to making a change.

How Can Counseling Help Improve Self-Esteem?

You may recognize that your self-esteem isn’t at a healthy level though you do not know how to make it better. It can be hard to do this if you don’t believe you deserve it. Everyone deserves to have a healthy self-image and level of self-esteem.

Therapy can create a space for you to process the way you view yourself and how you talk to yourself. With the right counselor you can identify where your poor self-image is coming from and begin to challenge unhealthy narratives that support these beliefs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help with this tremendously.

Carolina Counseling Services in Cameron, NC contracts with licensed therapists and counselors that know how to treat low self-esteem. Psychiatric medication management is also available.

Begin viewing yourself in a more positive light. Call CCS today to schedule your first appointment.

Providers are in network with most major insurances including Aetna, Aetna State Health Plan, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC), Tricare, Medicaid and more. Online appointments are also available making getting quality mental health care anywhere in North Carolina easier than ever before!

Related Articles:

• Gaining Healthy Self-Esteem During Adolescence

Jaime Johnson Fitzpatrick LCMHCS, LCAS is one of the Owners and Vice Presidents of Carolina Counseling Services. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist in the State of North Carolina as well as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in State of New York. Jaime is also certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and utilizes various other approaches in her practice.