Low Self-Esteem

A low sense of self-worth might be characterized by a lack of confidence in one’s own skills. For instance, a quarterback with low self-esteem can be more fixated on the interception he threw than the 20 receptions he made after winning a championship game. His confident running back, meanwhile, can only recall his one-yard touchdown and has already forgotten about his two fumbles. The article on counseling and mental health published in the “Texas Division of Student Affairs” states that self-esteem is more significant than the normal ups and downs brought on by situational changes. Neither person’s faith in their own convictions can be undermined by external evidence, nor by receiving a great deal of positive or negative feedback. Over the course of our lives, as we form an identity through interactions with other people and activities, our self-esteem changes. Having low self-esteem can stem from external forces, such as early childhood trauma and past experiences. Early childhood experiences are very important in forming one’s sense of self and allows for feelings of safety and love. Children having a positive emotional development is crucial since it will affect how well they manage their own emotions as well as their capacity to form positive interactions with peers. The article “Self Esteem and Mental Health” discusses how our upbringing—including the treatment we received from our peers, teachers, coaches, parents, and religious leaders—built our self-esteem.

People with poor self-esteem have deeply held self-beliefs that cause them to think negatively all the time because of prior trauma. Traumatic events have the power to undermine a person’s sense of self and have an impact on their self-esteem. Trauma frequently causes individuals to believe that things are hectic, and we have no control of our circumstances. In the article “How Trauma Affects Your Self Esteem”, Trauma shatters trust in ourselves, others, and the world around. It gets harder to believe we should have good experiences and to feel protected. Rebuilding confidence can be difficult when there is a lack of trust because it might lower our self-esteem. Identity disruption can also result from early trauma. It can be difficult to feel confident in who we are, which can cause uncertainty and loss of identity when memories or triggers from the past come back to torment us. These obstacles prohibit us from moving forward with more beneficial thought patterns and make us feel stuck.

Trauma affects, challenges, and modifies our self-perception. It also tests our relationship with our own life and emotions. Childhood experiences such as lying to oneself, fear, bullying, and disapproving parents can all contribute to poor self-esteem. A few factors that might make someone feel horrible include not fitting in at school, finding it difficult to live up to parent standards, and being abused or neglected, according to the article “Self-Esteem and Mental Health.” Any early events might result in identity loss if we let ourselves get consumed and obsessed on the worst parts of life. Whether we like to admit it or not, the events of the past—especially the ones that made us lack confidence—continue to shape the way we live our daily lives as we get older. We can identify situations that made us sensitive and link those behaviors to unproductive actions.

Low self-esteem people believe they are unimportant and that nothing they do will change, while high self-esteem people believe they can accomplish anything they set their minds to. Trauma’s detrimental effects on one’s sense of self-worth can contribute to harshness and self-hatred. In “The Toxic Effects of Negative Self-Talk” Author Elizabeth Scott states, self-talk that is critical prevents you from realizing your own potential and from having faith in your own talents. It’s any thinking that undermines your confidence and your capacity to change your life for the better. Therefore, having negative self-talk can seriously hinder your success in addition to being unpleasant. The article “Good Therapy” supports this idea by stating that trauma harms the mind by generating false thoughts and conclusions that don’t make sense. These ideas chip away at your self-worth and fuel negative perceptions to the point where the resulting crippling self-loathing makes you want to run away, hide, and always apologize for being alive. 

 Unresolved childhood trauma, according to the “Emotional and Psychological Trauma” document, leads to severe trauma and a decline in self-esteem as well as a sense of fear and helplessness that lasts into adulthood. When questioned about their life choices or successes, children whose egos have been bruised by neglect, abuse, or simple apathy as a child internalize their inner critic as a cruel parent; they frequently respond, “I always hear my father’s voice telling me I’ll never amount to anything.” He’s always criticizing me in my brain, even when I’ve accomplished something to be proud of.”According to a study cited in the article “Trauma and Self Esteem,” the development of PTSD results in a reduction of memory and attentional function. This interferes with daily living and encourages self-denial, hence lowering one’s sense of self-worth. This “inner voice” constantly reminds your subconscious mind of the unpleasant feelings you’ve had in the past and reminds yourself of the negative lessons associated with those bad childhood events.

Low self-esteem can have devastating consequences. According to the “Texas Division of Student Affairs” article on counseling and mental health, low self-esteem can cause several problems, including difficulty managing one’s emotions, an inability to make educated choices, impaired cognitive functioning, increased sensitivity to stressors as an adult, and an increased risk for mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. These devasting effects could hinder someone’s career and academic success, as well as creating more negative feelings. One may enter a downward spiral of self-destructive behavior because of low self esteem.

References

Australia, H. (2023, -08-01T01:49:06.424Z). Self-esteem and mental health. Retrieved Nov 1, 2023, from https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/self-esteem

CMHC Self Esteem. https://cmhc.utexas.edu/selfesteem.html

Emotional and Psychological Trauma – HelpGuide.org. https://www.helpguide.org. Retrieved Nov 1, 2023, from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/coping-with-emotional-and-psychological-trauma.htm

How to Reduce Negative Self-Talk for a Better Life. Verywell Mind. Retrieved Nov 1, 2023, from https://www.verywellmind.com/negative-self-talk-and-how-it-affects-us-4161304

Mental Health: How Unresolved Childhood Trauma Impacts Adult Decision Making? Retrieved Nov 1, 2023, from https://www.india.com/health/mental-health-how-unresolved-childhood-trauma-impacts-adult-decision-making-6436317/

Susanne M. Dillmann.GoodTherapy | How Trauma Impacts Your Sense of Self: Part I. https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/identity-trauma/