When you feel badly about yourself, it can really hold you back in life. Your environment plays a major role in self-esteem and you might unintentionally create an environment that reinforces your low self-esteem. A 2018 study found that people with low self-esteem have a tendency to surround themselves with people who put them down. These words they say might be in line with what you may already think of yourself. It can be difficult to minimize interactions with them because they may give you an abnormal sense of comfort confirming your negative thoughts about yourself. Your low self-esteem may have started in childhood if parents, siblings, or close family members did not listen to you or validate your feelings. Perhaps, you were emotionally, physically, or sexually abused and these experiences have taught you that you cannot safely exist in this world. Speaking to a Self-esteem and body image therapist can help.
Experiencing poor body image sometimes pairs with low self-esteem, especially for female-identifying adolescents and women. Body image is simply one’s thoughts, feelings, and perception of the aesthetics of their own body. Many of us begin internalizing messages from a very early age that can lead to either positive or negative body image. Those identifying as female tend to become aware of their body’s appearance by age 9. Having a healthy body image is a significant component for eating disorder prevention and overall psychological well-being. When you are experiencing negative body image, you have a higher likelihood of developing an eating disorder, or suffering from depression, anxiety, isolation, and obsessions with weight loss. Starting Self-Esteem and Body Image Therapy can help.
