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For those who say you get your self-worth from your religion, I had a totally different experience. I was raised in a faith that told me that all humans were born bad. I can tell you that did NOTHING to build my self-worth. It helped tear if down. If religion gives you the support you need, good for you, but please recognize that is not everyone's experience.
To answer the OP's question, my sense of self-worth was hard won and comes from inside me. Life experiences tore me down to the point I thought I was worthless and deserved the abuse I received. It literally shattered me. I developed DID. One of my alters is/was a terrified little girl who was afraid of everything. It took a lot of hard work and therapy for me to integrate and come to believe that I have worth. So, the short answer is that my self-worth comes from within.
not sure why, but I feel the need to say this... during the darkest period while I was seeking help through therapy my T wanted me to say "I deserve to be treated with love and respect." out loud. I absolutely could NOT make the words come out. My throat seized up and I couldn't make a sound. At the same time I was terrified he was going to be angry with me because I didn't do what he told me to do. (did I mention I was in bad shape?) What I was able to do was repeat the line in my head. There were times I'd be in bed wrapped in the blankets, shaking out of fear what was about to happen and I'd be repeating over and over and over again in my head. Eventually I started to sort of believe it. Today I accept it as a true statement.
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