Self-Esteem is a topic that is discussed amongst young people and in schools, but it often goes un-noticed outside of these environments. Whilst government advisors, educators, mental health experts and psychologists all agree that self-esteem is extremely important to our wellbeing, it’s not something often talked about.
Those with high self-esteem tend to be more motivated in day-to-day tasks, have the ability to handle criticism, are able to take responsibility for their actions, take pride in their achievements and take control of their lives. Whilst people with low self-esteem might also be able to carry out many of the feats listed above, studies show that people with high self-esteem will on average perform more effectively and be happier.
One of the main issues surrounding Self-esteem is the negative stigma that is often portrayed. Many people believe that having low self-esteem means that you suffer from depression – in reality, this is far from the truth, and causes people to worry unnecessarily about their mental health.
Provoking Environment
Self-esteem is prominent amongst children, and youngsters that do not view themselves as “perfect”, may show signs of developing low self-esteem. In today’s society image is so important, and whether you agree with it or not, kids are trying to look like their idols. Whether this means fasting to lose weight, spending money to appear rich, getting tattoos and piercings to look cool – the signs of low self amongst teenagers are everywhere, and it’s a worrying trend that needs addressing.
Individuals in an unhappy relationship may also experience feelings of low self-esteem. Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, shame, disgust, anger & disappointment can all cause low self-esteem, and when mixed into a relationship – the feelings worsen. Many experts believe that unhappy feelings within a relationship tend to affect you more because you have another person involved other than yourself. This can make you feel as though you are not only letting yourself down, but also your loved one as well, further increasing the feelings of low self-esteem and shame.
Aggressive and angry workplaces are also a common factor in people who suffer with low self-esteem. If a lot of bullying and taunting is common in the work area, people are more likely to be put into a poor mood regardless of whether or not they are directly involved in the scenario. For those affected directly, things become even worse. The workers know that they have to come in the next day to work, so they build up a sense of fear and resentment towards the workplace, which can cause low self-esteem.
Whilst self-esteem may be a growing problem around the world, little is known about ways to treat it, and most people either label people suffering with self-esteem issues as either depression or just a case of ‘feeling down”. Until further research is completed, the true effects of low self-esteem may remain unknown. Another aspect that needs to be researched is the effects of having too much self esteem – which can often lead to cockiness, being over confident and rude. If you feel that you are struggling with your self-esteem and feel like taking it out on someone, don’t! Beating Anger have some great programs that WILL help you to reduce your anger levels, in turn improving your self esteem levels and improving your day to day quality of life.