Did you know that 85% of people worldwide have low self-esteem? Self-esteem is the opinion you hold of yourself. You can either think highly of yourself or hold yourself in low regard.
When you hold yourself in low regard, it can lead to other mental health struggles. The good news is, that there are ways you can treat self esteem issues. Take a look at the best ways to help yourself and get the most out of life.
What is Low Self-Esteem?
As someone with low self-esteem, you may have difficulty recognizing your good qualities. People with high self-esteem may be able to say things like, “I am a good person”, “I am good at art”, or “I am happy with the way I look”. If you struggle to say these affirmations to yourself, you may have low self-esteem.
If you’re unable to think positively about yourself, it may affect every area of your life. Perhaps you tend to go above and beyond to please people and then find yourself drained of energy. Like other mental health issues, low self-esteem has a spectrum so you could find that your confident in one type of situation and your self-esteem lowers in another type of situation.
What Can Cause Low Self-Esteem?
Low self-esteem develops as a result of the experiences and relationships we have throughout life. People who have experienced punishment, abuse, or neglect can often feel low. Children who have experienced these things grow up thinking they deserved to be treated that way.
In addition, those who have experienced a lack of affection or encouragement can form the belief that they’re not good enough, even if there are no significant negative experiences. You may also have low self-esteem if you feel like you can’t meet other people’s expectations or don’t fit in with your peers. When your self esteem is high, being different can feel like a good thing.
Treating Low Self-Esteem
Treating low self-esteem isn’t easy but every step made can inch you closer to living a life you’re happy with. The best way you can do this is to challenge yourself on how you view yourself. Here are some of the things you can do to improve your self esteem.
Recognize Your Good Qualities
Think about what you’re good at and write it down. Everyone is good at something so it’s just about realizing your strengths. Perhaps you’re a good cook, maybe you can draw well, or maybe you’re a loyal friend.
Create a mood board with all of your best qualities and hang it in your home where you can see it and remind yourself of your best qualities every day.
Create Healthy Relationships
If there is someone in your life who constantly brings you down with negative comments, consider spending less time with them. You can have healthy relationships with people who are positive and encouraging. Try and build strong relationships with people who appreciate you for exactly who you are.
Be Gentle With Yourself
There will be many times when you feel like being self-critical. Just remember that everyone makes mistakes and goes through failures. When you feel like being critical of yourself, try being gentle with yourself instead. What advice would you give to a friend going through a similar situation?
Be Assertive
Do you respect other people’s opinions? If so, you need to expect other people to respect yours. There are times when you can act assertive, even when you don’t feel it.
You don’t have to pretend to be someone else; it’s just about picking up the skills you need to be unapologetically yourself. Assertiveness is one of the things that rehab centers in San Diego can help with if your mental health issues have led to substance or alcohol abuse.
Learn to Say No
Do you have trouble saying no to people? Many people with low self-esteem find it difficult to say no, even when they want to. The danger of this is that you may start to resent your relationships.
It’s important to realize that saying no shouldn’t harm your relationships with people. Your friends and family need to respect your decisions so it’s important to set boundaries. Alcohol treatment centers in San Diego offer the mental health therapy required to give you the confidence you need to start saying no.
Challenge Yourself
It’s often when we challenge ourselves that we feel most proud of ourselves. Stepping out of your comfort zone can feel frightening but it will boost your self-esteem. Whether it’s joining a new exercise class, going for that job you’ve always wanted, or joining in on a social occasion, you’ll be glad you tried.
Help Reaching Your Goals
Tackling any kind of mental health condition is never easy on your own. At Apex Recovery, we offer a variety of mental health programs delivered by our dedicated counselors. Our San Diego rehab centers are only a phone call away.
Whether you’re looking for San Diego alcohol rehabilitation, treatment for self-esteem, detox programs, or both outpatient and inpatient services, we have you covered. We understand that it often takes more than you can do on your own to get through the darkest times. We’re here to provide you with the tools you need to move forward with a healthier life.
Although we don’t accept Medi-Cal at this time, we do accept self-pay options. Why not take a look at the treatment programs we offer?
Don’t Face Self Esteem Issues Alone
If your self esteem issues are holding you back and leading to bigger problems, it’s time to get some help. At Apex Recovery, we are surrounded by picturesque views and year-round sunshine which makes our center the best for relaxation and recovery. No matter what you’re struggling with, we aim to equip you with the knowledge you need to take control.
If you’d like any more information on our programs, contact us today.