“I am suffering from low self esteem with negative feelings about myself. Could I be depressed?”

You might want to ask yourself when these feelings started. Have they been around for a long time or did something trigger it? You might be a little depressed or self-conscious about something that is happening in your life or your current life situation. Ask yourself certain questions as, am I happy with where I am in my life? Am I surrounded by good people that I love? And always try to set a goal for yourself or something by the end of the day that always makes you feel better cause you look forward to getting something accomplished.

Is this a new way of feeling, or is it a worsening of the way you have felt for a long time? For all of your life? Were you ever confident? Happy? These are questions a psychologist or other mental health professional would want to address. Yes, low self-esteem is a component of depression, but there are many other factors to examine. Loss? Grief? Trauma? Physical illness? It would serve you well to have an evaluation by an experienced mental health professional before deciding on a plan going forward.

Good for you - you were able to find enough self-esteem to consider yourself worth getting help!

Peace,

Marian K. Shapiro

Low self-esteem is one symptom of depression. Some other symptoms include feeling sad most days, loss of interest in usual activities, fatigue, and poor concentration. To combat low self-esteem, try to stop yourself from making negative self-statements and instead identify positive aspects about yourself. In addition, make choices to spend time with people who treat you with kindness and respect and keep your distance from people who you experience as critical or judgmental. You can also improve self-esteem by setting manageable goals for yourself, such as participating in a constructive activity three times each week. When you find yourself succeeding at meeting your goals, it will benefit your self-esteem.

Naomi Jacobs, Ph.D.

Self-esteem issues are troublesome, but not necessarily a sign of depression. See a therapist for tactics/techniques in improving one's self-esteem. The Anxiety and Phobia workbook by Bourne has a good chapter on self-esteem.

Persistent negative feelings and poor self-image could be signs of depression. There are a range of options to tackle improving your self image and improving your mood. However, if you notice these thoughts negatively impact your functioning and relationships, that may be a sign that professional intervention is needed.

Low self esteem typically has its roots in one’s personal history. If you can sort through the negative messages you have internalized, you can start to work through them and build some healthy self esteem.

You do not seem to be aware of from where these feelings come. Low self-esteem is not inborn. It is learned from feedback usually from family, especially parents. Some feedback is flagrant and diminishing. Other feedback is almost invisible, making us feel insignificant. What has happened in your life to cause you to think less of yourself? This is important to know and as well as what the lie is that you have come to believe from some unconscious or unworthy "messenger". After you figure out why you think so little of yourself, examine the truth of it while you cease to buy into it. Buying into it causes further re-injury. You must not do that. Lastly, start fixing it. If the lie is that you are lazy, then start acting pro-active. Force yourself. If the lie is that you are not worth your parents' time, then find something that you could love to do that others might value as well. Become an expert. I find that clients who had many negative mirrors in childhood transcend low self esteem better when they become experts at something in life. Expertise gives us worth. Lastly, don't waste time pursuing a positive identity. Just live a meaningful life. That will give you what you need. Ego fulfillment is a waste of time. It is shallow and illusive.

Absolutely.

Yes, of course and yet you can overcome that. Either see a therapist or at least buy some books on the matter.