[wantstobe]

Well, I don't know what went wrong in my life, but I have problems with self esteem. It's weird because pretty much everyone I meet likes me a lot. I'm very friendly and get along well with others. I know I'm a good person. But-I don't like to be alone. I'm very self destructive and I have abused my body so badly over the years with drugs and alcohol and knives. I know I need to change and I want to change, I just don't know how or where to begin. I am glad I found this forum, it is giving me a place to start. Thank you.

[dreamweaver79]

Thanks for this forum. I have been struggling with low self esteem/worth for much of my life. Now if I can stop beating myself up, that would be great! Tx

[Aashlin]

Am havin trouble to take the step.... I donno wats wrong everything that seems helpful makes me run away

[Aashlin]

I think i m gonna go shouldnt have tried this sorry guys n u all r doin gr8

[Zachrey]

Hi DocJohn,

Just joined up with psychcentral and took a bunch of quizzes that were quite interesting!

I tried to take the self esteem quiz at :
cl1 dot psychtests dot com/take_test.php?idRegTest=3125

I answered all the questions and then clicked on "submit" or "score test" and nothing happened! Not good for someone with low self esteem, eh? ;-D

I have Windows 7 64 bit on an ASUS laptop with Google CHrome browser. Everyting is up-to-date as far as I know... Is there a bug on the webpage?

Thanks!
Zac

[QUOTE=DocJohn;75719]Before you can begin to improve your self-esteem you must first believe that you can change it. Change doesn't necessarily happen quickly or easily, but it can happen. You are not powerless! Once you have accepted, or are at least willing to entertain the possibility that you are not powerless, there are three steps you can take to begin to change your self-esteem:

* Step 1: Rebut the Inner Critic
* Step 2: Practice Self-Nurturing
* Step 3: Get Help from Others

[pinkrosepetal01]

i have got low self esteem also. same reasons emotional abuse and verbal abuse from a young age and neglect. i am in constant emotional pain. i want to tell you that you are valuable as a person. you have shared your heart on here and that gives me and others permission and courage to be open and genuine too, thanks dr john . i believe there is hope for a better future for all of us if we keep going and dont give up.

Originally Posted by vacantangel

I for one, am glad to see this new forum. Thanks Doc John for providing this new forum for us.

I basically have NO self-esteem. It has been squashed and trampled on since early childhood, creating in me extremely negative thinking. In fact, I have so much self-hatred that I fail to see why others could possibly like me. I need constant reassurance, very tiring on those in my life. Is there hope for someone who is in my position? I think if I could improve my self-esteem, maybe some of my other issues in life might just fall into place and not become real issues to begin with. Opinions?

[mduncanmoore]

This is an awesome and much needed forum for people today!
So many people compare themselves to what the media portrays the successful, or beautiful person to be and lose sight of their inner greatness and inner and outer beauty.
Self-Esteem is vital for people to live a happy life!

Thank you. I need all the help I can get.

[deneane]

i hope i get the help i need from this.i dont know what to do anymoore.

[AzureRain]

Originally Posted by DocJohn

* Step 1: Rebut the Inner Critic
* Step 2: Practice Self-Nurturing
* Step 3: Get Help from Others

Enjoy the forum and remember, be good and support each other!
DocJohn

What is / how do you: "Rebut the Inner Critic"

[Junerain]

As far as rebut-ing one's inner critic, I feel this thread was one of PC's best on the issue. I hope you get a lot out of it!

http://forums.psychcentral.com/showt...ve+distortions

Hi everyone, I'm new to this thread. I have suffered from issues with low self esteem since I was 11. I was bullied a lot by my peers growing up. It wasn't so bad in h.s, but by then, the damage was done. My parents were also very critical of me growing up at times, and they still are. My younger sister has also been mean to me most of the time growing up. I'm a little more confident than I used to be, and my self-esteem is better now, but it's still a little on the low end at times.

I never had that many friends. Right now I only have three and a few online friends. My husband is emotionally and verbally abusive, so that doesn't help with my main issue which is depression and anxiety. I'm on meds for both issues. I'm hoping that I can learn how to develop a better self-esteem on here.

You can call me Angie.

*Angie*

[Piraeus]

Originally Posted by pudding

Hi everyone,

New to the site. I hope to find the answers I'm looking for.

I am a recovering Aloholic of 14+ years. I still have some very big self esteem issues but not quite sure if their my truth or other peoples truth. I am now looking into Borderline personality disorder & wondering if I can get some feed back on this topic.

Thanking you in advance,

Pudding

Gratz on the recovery from Alcoholism.That's a great achievement. Others can be ruthless when slamming you self esteem. The key is perception.
Here is a link that may help you.
Borderline Personality Disorder - Forums at Psych Central

If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding.
How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat.
Pink Floyd The Wall

[bluewings]

Had joined the Daily Challenge at challenge.meyouhealth.com suggestion by docjohn and I enjoy seeing what new challenge is instore for me each morning, had just earned 25 tokens to purchase a track of my own choice so selected Strengthening Self Esteem...should check it out

Originally Posted by DocJohn

Before you can begin to improve your self-esteem you must first believe that you can change it. Change doesn't necessarily happen quickly or easily, but it can happen. You are not powerless! Once you have accepted, or are at least willing to entertain the possibility that you are not powerless, there are three steps you can take to begin to change your self-esteem:

* Step 1: Rebut the Inner Critic
* Step 2: Practice Self-Nurturing
* Step 3: Get Help from Others

Enjoy the forum and remember, be good and support each other!
DocJohn

Very hopeful of this entire idea website forum...
Fingers crossed for improvement finally, after years and years of trying and failing, i was already giving up when this site came to my notice...
Lets hope this helps

[Floralies]

Thank you so much for this group. I need it so much. My low self-esteem started as a child in the early development years. I am now 50. I am constantly second guessing everything I say and do. I am constantly beating myself up. I am constantly seeking approval. The list gos on and on.

[SeekerOfLife]

Trying to figure out the bottom line to all this.
I have low self esteem, poor assertiveness, depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD. So what underlies all of this? Or.....is it different for different people?
I find myself chasing each issue for a time. Then, feel like I am chasing the wrong thing. So, the chase begins anew.
I am in therapy. My therapist and I set goals for me to work on. Right now the goals are for better self esteem and improved assertiveness.
Not sure if I am going in the right direction--just like these wee folks below my words.

[Junerain]

Can you describe the process of chasing each issue? Sounds like you are really trying

[blu~eyes93]

Originally Posted by vacantangel

I for one, am glad to see this new forum. Thanks Doc John for providing this new forum for us.

I basically have NO self-esteem. It has been squashed and trampled on since early childhood, creating in me extremely negative thinking. In fact, I have so much self-hatred that I fail to see why others could possibly like me. I need constant reassurance, very tiring on those in my life. Is there hope for someone who is in my position? I think if I could improve my self-esteem, maybe some of my other issues in life might just fall into place and not become real issues to begin with. Opinions?

I feel the same way! I sometimes think I suck the life out of the people that love me! I use to have pretty good self~esteem and a decent self~image! Trying to get the negative thoughts or as an old therapist called it "Monkey Mouth" out of my head can sometimes be impossible!

[SeekerOfLife]

Junerain, Sometimes i think the answer is to deal with the depresssion. Another times I feel if I could just conquer the anxiety I could handle life. Sometimes I try to deal with the ADD on my own (but to no avail). I have several problems that I struggle with each day. I do not know what is the underlying issue. I guess that is why my therapist helped me choose two to work on. Hope that clarifies my statement.