Signs of Low Self Esteem

Poor self-esteem can cripple an individual’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviour patterns. In some cases, its signs are visible, but in others, they can be subtle and hard to recognise.

Mentioned below are some signs of low self esteem in a woman or a man:

Low Confidence

People with low self-esteem tend to have low self-confidence and vice versa. On the contrary, being confident in yourself and your talents can allow you to manage every situation, no matter how difficult. This self-trust indicates that you are confident about navigating different things in life, contributing to your overall well-being. But if you struggle with self-esteem, your confidence level may drop so much that you no longer trust yourself with anything.

Lack of Control

People with low self-esteem often have little control over their lives. This is usually due to the fact that they cannot change themselves or the circumstances around them. Because of this external locus of control, such people may also believe they do not have enough power to fix their problems.

Negative Social Comparison

Social comparison can often play a positive role in enhancing an individual’s sense of self and self-worth. However, for some, this comparison can damage their self-esteem. People with esteem issues are more likely to participate in an upward social comparison, i.e., comparing themselves to people they think are better than themselves.

Remember that upward social comparison is not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes, these comparisons can provide beneficial information for progress or inspire people to improve themselves and their lives. However, for people who are vulnerable to hopelessness and inadequacy, such comparisons may inhibit their self-esteem.

Social media tends to play a crucial role in triggering these comparisons. If you are habitual of comparing yourself with people on different social medial platforms, like Instagram and Facebook, your self-esteem automatically becomes vulnerable.

Difficulty Vocalising Needs

Individuals with low self-esteem may frequently struggle to ask for something they need. Such people may feel like they don’t deserve the help because of low self-regard. They may also feel incompetent or embarrassed by their need for support or assistance. Prioritising their needs also becomes challenging for them; as a result, they find it difficult to assert themselves in times of need.

Negative Self-Talk

Low self-esteem can often force people to focus on their flaws instead of their talents, abilities, and strengths. Instead of building their confidence with positive self-talk, such people always have something negative to think and say about themselves. They constantly blame themselves when things go South and always manage to find faults with a particular aspect of themselves, such as their personality, appearance, or skills.

Fear of Failure

Because of low self-confidence, people with esteem issues frequently doubt their ability to succeed. Their constant fear of failure forces them to avoid challenges or give up too soon without even trying properly. This fear of failure is particularly evident in their behaviours, and some low self esteem examples depicting these patterns include:

• Acting out when things go wrong
• Finding ways to hide feelings of inadequacy
• Blaming external factors
• Making excuses
• Downplaying the importance of a certain task

Poor Outlook

Poor outlook is one of the most common characteristics of a man with low self esteem. This symptom causes people to feel hopeless about their life in the coming years. These intense feelings of hopelessness may make it challenging for them to struggle for a better future. To cope with these feelings, many people with esteem issues indulge in self-sabotage, i.e., they keep finding obstacles to prevent success and blame them for their shortcomings.

People Pleasing

Most people with low self-esteem have a habit of always trying to please others. To gain external validation, such individuals may go above and beyond to ensure that others around them are happy and comfortable. Due to this habit, they often neglect their own needs, feel guilty about saying no to others and say yes to things out of their comfort zone.