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How Your Self-Esteem Affects Your Mental Health

Having low self-esteem is something many people of all ages deal with. While low self-esteem is not considered a mental health condition in itself, the way we think about ourselves directly impacts our mental health and overall well-being.

What is Self-Esteem?

Self-esteem refers to the way people feel about themselves. Someone with healthy or high self-esteem thinks positively about themselves and their abilities. They believe they deserve respect and have no problems setting healthy boundaries.

Individuals with low self-esteem do not feel very good about themselves. They constantly measure themselves against others and always come up short. They may not think they are worthy of love and respect and will typically not set healthy boundaries, allowing others to take advantage of them.

How Does a Low Self-Esteem Affect Mental Health?

The following are some ways low self-esteem can impact a person’s mental health:

Poor Relationships 

Humans are wired for connections, but when we have low self-esteem, we tend not to put ourselves “out there” socially. Consequently, we tend to isolate ourselves, leading to poor relationships and loneliness.

Addiction

Studies have indicated low self-esteem in childhood can lead to addictions later in life. Many addicts use alcohol and other substances as a way to cope with negative feelings about themselves.

Depression and Anxiety

Living with low self-esteem day after day, week after week, can very much take its toll and eventually lead to the development of depression and anxiety.

How to Build Your Self-Esteem

Building self-esteem is important for mental health and for living a happy life. But it’s not necessarily easy to do it. It’s not like losing weight where you can say I am going to eat less and move more.

That is why I recommend working with a trained therapist who specializes in helping people build their self-esteem. A therapist can help you identify your core negative beliefs and determine where they came from. They can help you develop new, realistic self-esteem that reflects your true self.

Please contact me if you or someone you know is suffering from low self-esteem and would like to explore treatment options.

SOURCES:

https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/July-2016/Why-Self-Esteem-Is-Important-for-Mental-Health

https://www.hormona.io/why-self-esteem-affects-your-mental-health/

https://fherehab.com/learning/self-esteem-mental-health

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Mental Health Effects of Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse is not as easy to spot as physical abuse, but often its effects can be just as traumatic. Emotional abuse can involve many tactics, including gaslighting, shaming, and manipulation. All of these are intended to leave the victim feeling confused, powerless, and hopeless.

Typically people suffering from long-term or short-term emotional abuse, and depending on the length of time, can experience varying mental health effects.

Long-term emotional abuse happens over many years. Examples are a child growing up in a home with an alcoholic parent or a sibling with anger issues. Someone may find themselves in a marriage with a narcissistic partner.

Short-term emotional abuse can result from a nasty exchange with a stranger or micro-interactions with colleagues or neighbors.

The following are some short-term and long-term effects of emotional abuse:

Short-Term Effects

  • Isolation or a sense of deep loneliness 
  • Self-doubt
  • Shame
  • Confusion
  • Low self-esteem
  • Anxiety connected with social interactions
  • Feelings of powerlessness

Long-term Effects

  • Neuroticism, or the tendency toward a depressed mood or negative emotions like anger
  • Chronic stress
  • Physical health issues like muscle tension and shortness of breath
  • Attachment issues
  • Apathy
  • Eating disorders
  • PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or CPTSD (chronic post-traumatic stress disorder)

You Can Heal from Emotional Abuse

With time, patience, and plenty of self-compassion, it is very possible to heal from the trauma of emotional abuse. Working with a mental health professional who has been trained specifically to help people who have been victims of emotional abuse is a great starting point.

If you’d like to explore treatment options, please reach out to me.

SOURCES:

https://psychcentral.com/health/effects-of-emotional-abuse

Emotional Abuse and its Impact on Mental Health

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327080

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Neurodivergence’s Impact on Mental Health

When we speak about human behavior or ways of being in the world, we have traditionally described someone as having normal behavior or abnormal behavior. Recently, mental health experts have begun to look at things in a broader, more inclusive scope.

What Does Neurodivergent Mean?

Neurodivergent is a term used to describe someone who either behaves in a specific way or processes information in a specific way that differs from cultural norms. It is an important shift in the mental health community because it allows clinicians to discuss diagnoses, such as autism, in a way that doesn’t portray the diagnosis as an illness or problem to be dealt with. In addition to autism, other diagnoses may be considered a form of neurodivergence, such as ADHD, any learning disability, dyslexia, and Tourette’s syndrome.

Benefits of Neurodiversity

Much of the world has embraced cultural diversity. We have been taught that diversity is our greatest strength. Well, people are finally starting to realize that this concept goes beyond just cultural diversity and should extend to the diversity of thought and being as well. Neurodiversity can actually be beneficial to society because different ways of thinking and looking at the world bring different perspectives and insights to the table.

Temple Grandin is a perfect example. Temple is autistic, and her unique perspective and way of thinking allowed her to revolutionize the practices for the humane handling of livestock.

Instead of stigmatizing people who have been diagnosed with a “cognitive disorder,” we must encourage them to embrace their differences and share their unique insights and perspectives with the world.

SOURCES:

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When is it Time to Ask for Help?

Depression is a complex mental health issue that varies widely between individuals. This is why it can be difficult for some people to recognize what may be a situational discomfort that may pass on its own and what may be more serious and require professional help.

The Difference Between Mild and Serious Mental Health Issues

To measure the seriousness of a mental health issue, most mental health professionals look at what impact it has on the person’s everyday life. They also take into account the events that led to the issue.

Mild mental health issues are typically less persistent and disruptive to an individual’s everyday life. On the other hand, serious mental health issues are often so severe that they negatively impact a person’s relationships and performance at school and work.

For example, feeling pressure at work about an upcoming deadline will make most individuals feel stressed and anxious. But if your anxiety becomes so great that you begin calling in sick to work to avoid the project and responsibilities, that would be seen as a disruption in your everyday life. Severe anxiety can lead to panic attacks, which is a reason to seek support.

Something else to keep in mind is the context around the mental health issue. It is perfectly normal to grieve after losing a loved one or to feel anger and resentment after discovering your partner’s infidelity. While it can definitely be helpful to speak with someone during these times, you may not necessarily be experiencing a severe mental health crisis that would warrant help.

It is important to mention that the events of one’s life need not be “serious” for you to reach out for help. Whatever it is that you are going through and whatever feelings you are experiencing, they are valid.

Warning Signs of a Serious Mental Health Crisis

The following are some red flags of a mental health crisis that warrant asking for help:

  • Feeling sad or “down” for long periods (particularly without an inciting incident)
  • Noticeable mood swings from very high, like euphoria, to very low, deep sadness or depression
  • Excessive worry
  • Feeling empty or apathetic about life
  • Engaging in self-harming behaviors, like cutting
  • Withdrawing from friends and family
  • Changes in appetite, sleep, or sex drive
  • Constant fatigue
  • Thoughts of suicide

If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s time to seek help. While the days seem dark right now, they can and will get brighter. I’d love to help you get there, so please get in touch with me so we can set up a time to speak.

SOURCES:

https://www.counseling.org/news/aca-blogs/aca-counseling-corner/aca-counseling-corner-blog/2018/03/01/knowing-when-to-ask-for-help#:~:text=If%20you’re%20facing%20a,to%20seek%20out%20professional%20help

https://jedfoundation.org/resource/mental-health-warning-signs-and-when-to-ask-for-help/

https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/sponsor-story/burrell-behavioral-health/2022/05/02/mental-health-matters-knowing-when-ask-help/9558636002/

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(407) 986-2888
alan@azupkacounseling.com