Everyone feels insecure from time to time. That’s normal. But if you have low self-esteem, you very often think negatively or harshly of yourself. You’re quicker to notice what’s going wrong and less likely to notice what’s going right.

Low self-esteem can cause you to have less confidence in yourself and your abilities. Low self-esteem can affect relationships, work, study and how you deal with mistakes or criticism.

Low self-esteem often stems from experiences in your life. What you go through and how others react to you can influence how you view yourself.

Low self-esteem, for example, may be linked to:

a great deal of criticism or rejection;
bullying;
little support or appreciation;
significant events;
often feel that something isn’t working out;
high expectations of yourself or of others.

Low self-esteem is also more common in people experiencing anxiety, low mood or traumatic past experiences. These symptoms can reinforce one another.

Low self-esteem can manifest itself in various ways. For example, you may notice that:

you often doubt yourself;
you’re afraid of making mistakes;
you find it difficult to stand up for yourself;
you compare yourself a lot with others;
you find it hard to believe your compliments;
you become more insecure in social situations.

Other symptoms may also arise, such as low mood, tension, worrying, headaches, stomach ache or tiredness.

A healthy lifestyle can help you feel better about yourself. Getting enough sleep, relaxation and social support can help you feel more balanced and energetic.

Exercise can help boost your energy levels, improve your sleep and make you feel more positive about yourself. The effect is supportive: exercise does not change your self-image straight away, but it can help you build greater self-confidence and have more positive experiences.

Our lifestyle coaches help you develop healthy habits and set small, achievable goals. By achieving these goals, you can boost your self-confidence.

There are various things you can do yourself to support your self-confidence and well-being.

For example, you could:

Focus on activities that you find enjoyable or fulfilling;
Spending time with people who make you feel comfortable and valued;
Set realistic expectations for yourself;
Allowing sufficient time for relaxation and recovery;
Taking time to reflect on things that are going well, however small they may seem;
Look after yourself by paying attention to sleep, diet and exercise;
Ask for help or support if you find yourself stuck.

Developing a more positive self-image often takes time. Small positive experiences can help to build greater confidence in yourself and your own abilities.

If low self-esteem is having a significant impact on your daily life, treatment can help. Together, we will look at how you view yourself and which experiences influence your self-esteem.

The treatment can help with:

uncertainty;
negative thoughts about yourself;
perfectionism;
difficulty setting boundaries;
anxiety or gloom;
little self-confidence.

Our psychologists They use various forms of treatment, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

In cognitive behavioural therapy, you examine thoughts and patterns that influence how you feel and what you do. In ACT, you learn to cope better with difficult thoughts and feelings, so that they have less of an impact on your daily life.

When past experiences play a major role, EMDR can help. EMDR is a treatment for traumatic or distressing experiences that still cause a great deal of distress.

The aim of the treatment is for you to develop a stronger and more realistic view of yourself and to gain greater confidence in yourself and your choices.

Low self-esteem

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