Low Self-Esteem

Most of us find that how we feel about ourselves can change from time to time. Yet some people find they never really feel good about themselves, this is called low self esteem. Self-esteem is to do with how we feel about ourselves. We don’t always feel good about ourselves but this generally passes after a short while. It is when feeling low about yourself starts to interfere with how you live your life, that experiencing low self-esteem becomes a problem.

These are some ways people may think, feel or act when they experience low self-esteem.

Low Self-Esteem: How you may think

  • That you are not good enough
  • That you are stupid
  • That you need to be perfect
  • You are very quick to blame yourself for things that may not be your fault
  • That you are weak or inadequate
  • That other people are better than you


Low Self-Esteem: How you might feel emotionally

  • Like a failure
  • Low in mood
  • Anxious
  • Frustrated with yourself or other people
  • Useless
  • Feel like you hate yourself


Low Self-Esteem: How you might feel in your body

  • Find it difficult to sleep
  • Panicky; your heart may beat fast and you may become sweaty
  • Tense, or on edge
  • Tired
  • Panic in certain situations, for example when meeting new people
  • More aware of your body, for example when blushing


Low Self-Esteem: What you might do or not do

  • Put yourself down all the time
  • Lose your temper and/ or pick fights
  • Find it difficult to make decisions
  • Find it difficult to go out to social events
  • Find it hard to accept compliments from other people
  • Constantly seek approval and reassurance from others
  • Work too hard or try to be perfect at everything you do
  • Hold back from doing things or speaking out
  • Try to please everyone saying yes all the time even when you want to say no
  • Pass off any opportunities, for example promotion or holidays
  • Allow others to do things to you that you do not want them to
  • Over-eat or under-eat for comfort


People can develop low self-esteem from experiences in their past. What happens during your childhood and teenage years can have a big impact on how you think about yourself. For example, being criticised a lot, being bullied or feeling different from other people could make you think badly about yourself. Events when you are an adult can also affect your self-esteem such as the end of relationships or being in debt.

If you feel this way a lot of the time, it might help to read some self-help materials about what you could do to boost your self-esteem. Some people can feel they need to talk to a professional, so going to your GP , or referring yourself to our service could help.