Low Self-Esteem: Causes & Reasons

Warning: Do not use in emergencies, if pregnant, if under 18, or as a substitute for a doctor’s advice or diagnosis. Learn more

Possible Causes for Low Self-Esteem

Depression

China Daily 2019-12-07 09:00 File photo [Photo/IC] Low self-esteem makes us feel bad about ourselves. [language.chinadaily.com.cn]

Or does depression cause low self-esteem and anxiety? Or both? [cmhc.utexas.edu]

For example, depression is not loneliness, it's not low self-esteem, and it's not being sad or distressed for good reasons. [reddit.com]

Dysthymic Disorder

self-esteem ; Poor concentration and decision making ; Feeling of hopelessness. [dr-elze.com]

Associated symptoms include poor appetite or overeating, insomnia or hypersomnia, poor concentration or difficulty making decisions, low energy, low self-esteem and feelings [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

self-esteem, poor concentration, poor decision-making ability and a sense of hopelessness. [dr-elze.com]

Endogenous Depression

Along with the speech and mental retardation, such people is exacerbated by a sense of guilt, of remorse in combination with low self-esteem. [healthrxmeds.com]

The person could appear anxious, have a change in sleeping patterns, a change in eating habits, show fatigue, have low self-esteem and even sudden mood changes. [completecounselingsolutions.com]

Personality You may be more vulnerable to depression if you have certain personality traits, such as low self-esteem or being overly self-critical. [nhs.uk]

Reactive Depression

There’s more to self-esteem than whether it is high or low: The importance of stability of self-esteem. [journals.plos.org]

While there is usually a genetic factor with endogenous depression, other factors such as low self- esteem and an externally focused lifestyle weigh more with reactive depression [exploringyourmind.com]

Other symptoms include anxiety, hopelessness and despair, self-doubt, low self-esteem, poor concentration, loss of interest, aches and pains, and inability to sleep. [irishhealth.com]

Severe Depressive Episode

[…] and low self-esteem. [symptoma.com]

[…] energy or fatigue Low self-esteem Poor concentration or difficulty making decisions Feelings of hopelessness ≥ 5 SIGECAP symptoms (of which at least one is depressed mood [amboss.com]

People who tend to be pessimistic, have low self-esteem, worry too much, or feel they have little control over life events are at a higher risk for developing depression. [tech.mit.edu]

Anorexia Nervosa

[…] illness have a low self-esteem and often a tremendous need to control their surroundings and emotions. [something-fishy.org]

self-esteem, a tendency towards depression and anxiety and a poor reaction to stress. [healthdirect.gov.au]

[…] and low self-esteem Reluctance to express feelings Warning signs: Extreme weight loss Increasing rigidity of the diet Preoccupation with weight, food or counting calories [uclahealth.org]

Childhood Depression

Low self-esteem. Trouble focusing or making choices. School grades may drop. Not caring about what happens in the future. Aches and pains when nothing is really wrong. [healthychildren.org]

Low self-esteem. Trouble with focusing or making choices. School grades may drop. Not caring about what happens in the future. [lfcsmo.org]

Or an absence of pleasure derived from relationships; Low self-esteem, frequently expressed through self-deprecating and negative talk; Indecisiveness; Difficulty with concentration [ldaamerica.org]

Bulimia Nervosa Purging Type

Low self-esteem: Women or men who think of themselves as useless, worthless, and unattractive are at risk for bulimia. [soulutionscounselling.com]

Left unchecked, it can to lead to metabolic disorders, low self-esteem, depression, or even death. [eatingdisorders.com]

They either have an intense fear of gaining weight, a strong desire to lose weight, or a significant impairment in their body image, which is often noted by low self-esteem [centerfordiscovery.com]

Mood Disorder

Dysthymic disorder can be characterized as a chronic low-grade depression, persistent irritability, and a state of demoralization, often with low self-esteem. [healthychildren.org]

Bipolar Disorder can manifest in many ways, including: difficulty falling or staying asleep, difficulty waking up in the morning, chronic fatigue, anxiety, low self-esteem [newmarkeducation.com]

self-esteem Agitation In addition, each of these disorders affects a person in different ways. [bhevolution.org]

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ADHD can cause low self-esteem in the child and impair quality of life for the child and the family. [intechopen.com]

self-esteem Employment problems Short temper Difficulty finishing a task Unthinking and immediate response; difficulty controlling behavior Restlessness If these difficulties [webmd.com]

"Women more than men with ADHD struggle with low self-esteem, and this needs to be a major focus of therapy," she adds. [web.archive.org]

Substance Abuse

Eating disorders and substance abuse share a number of common risk factors, including brain chemistry, family history, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and social pressures [nationaleatingdisorders.org]

Peer pressure, emotional distress and low self-esteem can all lead individuals to misuse drugs. Ease of access to drugs is another influence. [netdoctor.co.uk]

This suggests that problematic cell-phone use related to low self-esteem might be situational in nature. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Sexual Abuse Victim

Self-esteem. [rainn.org]

A child who is the victim of prolonged sexual abuse usually develops low self-esteem, a feeling of worthlessness and an abnormal or distorted view of sex. [victimsofcrime.org]

[…] harming/self-mutilation Chronic physical complaints Major Long-Term Psychological Symptoms of Sexual Abuse Anxiety Panic Attacks Low self-esteem Stress disorders - PTSD Personality [psychotherapist.net]

Social Phobia

Scale were applied to assess social phobia, depression, suicidality, and low self-esteem, respectively. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Low self-esteem Trouble being assertive Negative self-talk Sensitivity to criticism Poor social skills Avoidance of social situations or extreme discomfort while in these [centerforanxietydisorders.com]

self-esteem and self-critical thoughts) Female voice, with music. 36 mins 30s 2.50 CONFIDENT & COMPETENT mp3 (for low self-esteem and self-critical thoughts) Male voice, [getselfhelp.co.uk]

Postpartum Depression

self-esteem Risky pregnancy such as emergency cesarean or hospitalization during pregnancy Postpartum complications such as prolapse Low infant birth weight of your baby, [insider.com]

Women go through emotional insecurity and anxiety which can lead to depression and low self-esteem. [symptoma.com]

self-esteem Trouble managing stress Unrealistic ideas about motherhood Lack of sleep If the pregnancy was unwanted A complicated pregnancy Having a newborn with physical [web.archive.org]

Abuse and Neglect

Parents who were neglected or abused as children may not be emotionally mature or may have low self-esteem. [merckmanuals.com]

self-esteem Doing poorly in school Extreme behavior, such as being way too obedient or way too demanding Headaches and stomachaches with no clear cause The child doesn’t [webmd.com]

Children may have low self-esteem. Children who are terrorized or threatened may appear fearful and withdrawn. [merckmanuals.com]

Atypical Depression

self-esteem or being overly dependent Serious illness, such as cancer or heart disease Certain medications, such as some high blood pressure medications or sleeping pills [fortishealthcare.com]

"Dysthymia has a number of typical characteristics: low energy and drive, low self-esteem, and a low capacity for pleasure in everyday life. [cptsd.org]

Those who have a history of bipolar disorder or abusing alcohol and/or drugs, personality traits such as co-dependency or low self-esteem may develop a depressive disorder [betterhealthsolutions.org]

Agitated Depression

Personality Traits: People with a pessimistic view of life, having low self-esteem, dependent upon others, having low-stress threshold are more vulnerable to have depression [psychologyclinix.com]

self esteem and keep expecting things to go wrong. [recoveryourlife.com]

self-esteem, being self-critical, and/or feeling that others are unfairly critical Feelings of guilt and hopelessness Social withdrawal, such as lack of interest in friends [northshore.org]

Depressive Disorder

[…] by low self-esteem and by a loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. [courses.lumenlearning.com]

self-esteem Low energy or fatigue Poor appetite or overeating Difficulty with concentration and decision-making Difficulty falling/staying asleep (insomnia) or sleeping too [my.clevelandclinic.org]

Depressed mood, in addition to the presence of ≥ 2 of the following symptoms: Poor appetite or overeating Insomnia or hypersomnia Low energy or fatigue Low self-esteem Poor [amboss.com]

Dependent Personality Disorder

They may be predisposed to anxiety disorders and depression, developing low self-esteem as a type of gateway to developing dependent personality disorder. [study.com]

While a teen may exhibit symptoms of anxiety and depression coupled with low self-esteem, the step to a dependent personality disorder is much more severe. [paradigmmalibu.com]

When extreme, these core features produce a pattern of self-defeating interpersonal functioning characterized by insecurity, low self-esteem, jealousy, clinginess, help-seeking [mdedge.com]

Incest

self-esteem. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

This low self-esteem could be a result of having personal safety violated by a person in a position of trust or power. [soc.ucsb.edu]

Though the profiles of incestuous families may vary, the father-perpetrator is typically an immature individual with low self-esteem, while the wife-mother is depressed, helpless [patient.info]

Cleft Palate

Parents may suffer from denial, anger or guilt and the child suffers from a low self-esteem. [news-medical.net]

Psychological difficulties associated with physical appearance often involve low self-esteem and social withdrawal. [britannica.com]

Low Self-Esteem Children who look and/or sound different may have low expectations of themselves and believe that others do too. [clapa.com]

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

self-esteem. — Lisa Deaderick, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Helping former foster youth start and finish a new chapter," 29 Apr. 2018 Provisions tucked into a catch-all spending [merriam-webster.com]

People with PTSD may have low self-esteem or relationship problems, or may seem disconnected from their lives. [sidran.org]

Interpersonal difficulties associated with PTSD include difficulty trusting others, low self-esteem, problems establishing boundaries, and fears of intimacy and of vulnerability [doi.org]

Panic Disorder

It can cause: Low self-esteem Poor school performance Problems with peer and family relationships Social isolation Sleep problems Depression Drug or alcohol use Agoraphobia [youngmenshealthsite.org]

self-esteem, frustration, and resentment prior to PD onset. [scielo.br]

HeartSpeak - a novel method for reducing stress and other stress-related conditions such as anxiousness, depression, and low self-esteem.[69] Depending on the situation, all [en.wikipedia.org]

Agoraphobia

self-esteem Sleep disturbances, including insomnia Paranoia Physical symptoms of agoraphobia: Feeling faint, dizzy, light headed or nauseous when you are in a large outdoor [priorygroup.com]

self-esteem and loss of self-confidence reluctance to leave the house or venture beyond familiar surrounds depression, which can sometimes accompany the condition. [betterhealth.vic.gov.au]

[…] help Experiencing anxiety that is disproportionate to the actual threat or danger that is posed by the feared situation Depression Panic attacks Anxiety attacks Confusion Low [priorygroup.com]

Overeating

The most common element surrounding ALL Eating Disorders is the inherent presence of a low self esteem Compulsive Overeating People suffering with Compulsive Overeating have [something-fishy.org]

It may also result in psychological stresses, anxiety, isolation, and low self-esteem. [eatingdisorders.com]

She may feel guilty for not being good enough (according to someone else’s standards), shame for being overweight, and generally have a very low self-esteem. [timberlineknolls.com]

Mixed Anxiety and Depressive Disorder

self-esteem/feeling worthless. [ipfs.io]

You have low self-esteem. You experienced a childhood trauma. You are under a lot of stress. What Causes Mixed Anxiety-Depressive Disorder? [disorders.org]

self-esteem Childhood trauma Stress Treatment The priority is to treat the most disabling of either the anxiety or depression first and then consider treatments such as SSRI [ipfs.io]

Neurotic Disorder

The person must also not go for more than 2 months without experiencing 2 or more of the following: low self-esteem low energy, tiredness sleep irregularities changes in appetite [chealth.canoe.com]

Neurotics often have damaged self-images that stem from low self-esteem. Disordered characters see themselves as superior which leads to a sense of entitlement. [counsellingresource.com]

Symptoms and Complications Signs that a person may be suffering from dysthymia include: depressed mood for prolonged periods low self-esteem low energy, tiredness sleep irregularities [chealth.canoe.com]

Eating Disorder

Low self-esteem and negative mood acted as mediators of these associations. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

self-esteem, and body dissatisfaction. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

[…] quality of interpersonal relationships, ED symptom severity, low self-esteem, and negative mood. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Suicidal Depression

[…] and low self-esteem urges to self-harm How long will I feel suicidal? [mind.org.uk]

For example, depression is not loneliness, it's not low self-esteem, and it's not being sad or distressed for good reasons. [reddit.com]

[…] sleep with early waking change in appetite, weight gain or loss no desire to take care of yourself, for example neglecting your physical appearance wanting to avoid others self-loathing [mind.org.uk]

Binge Eating Disorder

The binge eater also may develop low self-esteem both due to the disgust of their own eating habits and possibly due to their feelings about their own body image. [healthyplace.com]

self-esteem Loss of sexual desire Depression Anxiety Suicidal thoughts [studenthealth.sa.ucsb.edu]

The path to recovery can be very challenging but it can also shed light on what contributes to binge eating, low self-esteem and negative body image, and how to minimise relapse [thebutterflyfoundation.org.au]