Self-esteem is a reflection of one’s self-worth. It involves their beliefs about themselves and their emotional responses to those beliefs. It is important to pay attention to self-esteem because it has a huge impact on our lives. People with high self-esteem have an easier time handling things such as stress and anxiety. Having low self-esteem can put one at risk. Low self-esteem in teens can result in premature sexual activity, chronic negativity, antisocial attitudes, relationship troubles, self-destructive behaviors, and even the use of drugs or alcohol.
How to Recognize Low Self-Esteem
There are many different characteristics that can be used to predict low self-esteem in teens. Some of the predictors of low self-esteem include exposure to bullying, chronic medical conditions, loneliness, anxiety, parental criticism or neglect, negative friends and/or peers, abuse or trauma, life events such as divorce or moving, and mood disorders.
It can still be hard to know if you or someone that you know has low self-esteem, even if you know some of the predictors of low self-esteem. Because of this, it can be helpful to know some of the signs of low self-esteem. People with low self-esteem sometimes say negative things about themselves. It is not uncommon for people with low self-esteem to be overly critical and/or mean to themselves. They may also joke about themselves in a negative way. Someone making a joke about themselves might not be a problem, but if they make these jokes often, it may be cause for concern.
Another sign is that they might focus on their negatives and ignore their achievements. They sometimes may have warped/overly pessimistic mindsets. It is not uncommon for teens to blame themselves when things go wrong. Low self-esteem individuals can have a tendency to think other people are better than they are. Teens may also find themselves thinking that they don’t deserve to have fun. They also may have trouble accepting compliments, and may avoid challenges because they are afraid of failing.
How to Improve Self-Esteem
After learning about low self-esteem and how it influences behavior, it becomes clear just how big of an effect it can have on a person’s life. It changes your perspective in a harmful way. It creates different issues that can snowball and create bigger issues that are more difficult to deal with. Having low self-esteem can have devastating effects on someone without them even realizing it.
Thankfully there are multiple ways to try and improve self-esteem.
Challenge negative thoughts about oneself. If you criticize yourself, it is important to make sure that the criticism is actually valid. Especially because negative thoughts can start to loop and spiral. Don’t overdo it – be kind to yourself.
Practice saying no. Saying yes to everything will likely put you in unfavorable situations. Saying no is a good way to exercise your autonomy and build confidence.
Avoid comparing oneself to others. Comparison is part of human nature. However, comparing yourself to other people can be very destructive. Embrace your uniqueness.
Try to get good sleep. Good sleep can also improve your mood and boost your energy. Not sleeping enough or sleeping too much can cause problems for you both mentally and physically.
Eat healthy foods. A good diet can go a long way in making you feel better. Constantly eating junk food can make you feel lethargic and negatively affect your mood.
Exercise. Sometimes it can be hard to find a good time or place to exercise. Thankfully, exercising doesn’t always have to consist of going to the gym. It can be as simple as going for a walk or doing at-home exercises like pushups, jumping jacks, and lunges.
Recognizing situations that might be affecting your self-esteem. Knowing how different situations affect your self-esteem can help you work through or avoid them in the future.
In Conclusion
Improving self-esteem can be difficult, and it takes time, but it is important to take the steps to make changes in the way we think about ourselves. Taking on challenges is important for growth. Let’s encourage the teens in our lives to talk about what makes them upset, feel sad, depressed, ashamed, angry, or even worthless. Then, let’s support them as they take on the challenge of positive change.