Symptoms of Low Self Esteem

  • Over-Apologizing: You often find yourself apologizing for things that aren’t your fault, fearing that others will think less of you if you don’t constantly seek their approval.

  • Avoiding Opportunities: You frequently pass up new opportunities or challenges, convinced that you’re not capable enough to succeed, and fearing that failure will only confirm your doubts.

  • Downplaying Achievements: Even when you accomplish something significant, you struggle to accept praise or acknowledgment, often attributing your success to luck rather than your own abilities.

  • Constant Need for Reassurance: You find yourself seeking constant validation from others, needing reassurance that you’re doing well because you don’t trust your own judgment.

  • Difficulty Accepting Compliments: When someone compliments you, it feels uncomfortable or insincere, and you may deflect or dismiss the praise because you don’t believe you deserve it.

  • Reluctance to Express Opinions: You hesitate to share your thoughts or opinions, fearing that they’ll be dismissed or ridiculed, which leaves you feeling invisible and undervalued.

Where anxiety shows up

Relationships

You often worry that you’ll say or do something wrong in your relationships, leading to constant self-analysis and harsh self-criticism. This fear can make you hesitant to express your true feelings or needs, causing you to hold back or withdraw emotionally. The idea of being vulnerable or open with others feels intimidating, so you may choose to stay in the background, avoiding deep connections and keeping your relationships at a surface level to protect yourself from potential rejection or criticism.

Work

You often feel an overwhelming pressure to prove your worth through productivity, and the fear of making mistakes leaves you constantly anxious about the potential consequences. This pressure leads to a cycle of intense focus followed by excessive procrastination, as the stress of trying to be perfect becomes too much to manage. Work feels constantly daunting, with every task carrying the weight of potential failure, making it difficult to stay motivated. Even after hours, your mind struggles to switch off, and the thought of returning to work fills you with dread, leaving you wishing you could leave it all behind.

Self

Even when everything seems fine, low self-esteem keeps you searching for flaws within yourself. Feeling good about who you are feels almost impossible because there's always a sense that you're not enough or that you should be better. You're constantly focused on what you lack or what you should improve, making it hard to appreciate who you are in the present moment. Life often feels like a relentless effort to prove your worth, as if you're endlessly striving to be someone else.

Therapy can help you

  • Alleviate worry and anxiety.

  • Establish boundaries to prevent burnout and achieve a healthier work-life balance.

  • Build confidence in social situations and quiet your inner critic.

  • Learn techniques to calm your mind and ease feelings of panic.

  • Embrace life and savor the present moment.