People are built differently, with individual personality traits. There are those who are confident and believe in themselves and their abilities.
Others are timid, have no sense of self-trust and often struggle with accepting themselves. There are several contributing factors to both of these characteristics.
There is also a group of people who might not be fully aware that they have low self-esteem—people who may have previously had a lot of confidence in themselves but due to certain circumstances, their self-esteem slowly declines.
Health and wellness professionals detail few indications that prove your self-esteem is low, in case you didn’t realise.
Sensitivity to criticism: WebMD states that if you have low self-esteem, you could be more vulnerable to criticism from others or from yourself. The publication adds that you merely view criticism as further proof of your shortcomings and your incapacity to perform anything correctly.
Anti-social: According to the source mentioned above, “Declining invitations to go to a party or meet up with friends, cancelling scheduled plans at the last-minute, and generally not wanting to be around others are signs of low self-esteem.” WebMD states that this is because discussing your life and having a discussion may only intensify anxiety and despair in you, so you choose to avoid socialising.
Lack of control: Low self-esteem individuals frequently believe that they have little control over their life or their situations. This is according to Very Well Mind. The publication believes that this may be the result of their perception that they are unable to affect change in the world or in themselves. “Because they have an external locus of control, they feel powerless to do anything to fix their problems.”
Self-compare: The above source also states that negative social comparison, or upward social comparison, can damage self-esteem, and people with low self-esteem may engage in this comparison, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy or hopelessness. It is also stated that social media can contribute to this as users often compare themselves unfavourably to others.
People-pleasing tendencies: Psych Central claims that another sign that your self-esteem might be low is that you try to please others rather than staying true to who you are and going for what makes you happy. According to licenced therapist Cheryl A. Clarke, individuals with poor self-esteem also tend to be quiet or passive-aggressive rather than advocating for themselves.
Also see: 5 Ways to improve self-esteem
