What is self-esteem?
Self-esteem is how we think and feel about ourselves. It isn’t just about how we look, but also how confident we feel in who we are.
If our self-esteem is high, we’re not too worried about what other people think, or how much we get wrong, because we accept ourselves just the way we are, without judgment: we are more positive about life in general. When we have low self-esteem, it means we are probably low on confidence and more likely to see things in a negative light; we might find it hard to believe in ourselves and feel good enough. That’s okay! Most people struggle with self-esteem at some point in their life.
What can cause low self-esteem?
Things that have happened to us in the past, our mental health, or difficult situations at home can influence our self-esteem. It can also be affected by:
- Problems at college
- Bullying
- A traumatic experience or experiences
- Abuse or neglect
- Friendships or relationships – the way people in our lives treat us
- College or exam stress
- Mental health problems
- Physical health problems
- Feeling under pressure to look or act a certain way
- Experiencing discrimination
- Social media and spending lots of time online
What can help?
Supporting your child with low self-esteem
If your child is struggling with low self-esteem, click on the links to find out how you can support them and places you can get help.
Information: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/self-esteem/
You can also download this guide from YOUNGMiNDS:
References
- Childrenssociety.org.uk
- Mind.org.uk
- Youngminds.org.uk
Further Information
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Self-esteem, what can help?
If low self-esteem feels too intense or last for too long, it could be a sign that you might need additional support. Talking about it can be really helpful and is often the first step to feeling better. Speak to a trusted friend or family member, or contact our Therapy Service on therapyservice@tvc.ac.uk to talk […]
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