5 Signs You’re Battling Low Self-Esteem and How a Clinical Psychologist Can Help
Low self-esteem is something many people struggle with at some point in their lives. While it's normal to experience moments of self-doubt, chronic low self-worth can negatively impact your relationships, confidence, and even your day-to-day decisions. The good news is, you don’t have to face it alone. A clinical psychologist can offer the tools and support you need to improve how you see yourself and help you regain control over your life.
Here are five key signs that low self-esteem might be affecting you – and how working with a clinical psychologist can help you tackle them.
1. You Go to Extreme Lengths to Avoid Conflict
If you find yourself people-pleasing or agreeing with others simply to avoid confrontation, this may be a sign of low self-esteem. Some people with low self-worth take this behaviour to the point of becoming a “chameleon” – constantly shifting personalities or agreeing with everyone’s opinions to fit in. This can lead to ignoring your own needs and brushing aside your interests in favour of keeping the peace.
How a Clinical Psychologist Can Help: Therapy can help you learn to assert yourself and experience less fear of conflict or rejection. A clinical psychologist can support you in recognising that your voice matters, and they can teach you boundary-setting skills that allow you to express your true thoughts without fear of letting others down.
2. You Criticise Yourself Harshly
Do you often find yourself being overly critical of your actions, appearance, or personality? Self-criticism is a hallmark of low self-esteem. You might focus on your perceived flaws and ignore your successes, leading to a distorted and overly negative view of yourself. It’s common for this to intensify when you feel you've disappointed someone, as you may take it very personally, even when it’s not your fault.
How a Clinical Psychologist Can Help: Therapy can help you understand, identify and break out of a pattern of criticising yourself. A clinical psychologist can work with you to identify where this harsh inner critic stems from and help you develop self-compassion, so you can learn to be kinder to yourself.
3. You Struggle to Accept Compliments or Praise
If someone compliments you, do you tend to brush it off or feel uncomfortable? This is a common sign of low self-esteem. When you don’t feel confident in your own value, it’s hard to believe positive feedback is genuine or deserved. Some people even find themselves lying or exaggerating about their achievements to fill the void of self-worth they feel inside.
How a Clinical Psychologist Can Help: A clinical psychologist can work with you to explore why you find it hard to accept praise and how you can start recognising your strengths. Therapy can also help you develop healthier ways of validating yourself, so you don’t feel the need to embellish or seek external approval to feel valued.
4. You Apologise Excessively
If you find yourself constantly apologising for things that aren't your fault, or your apologies are disproportionate to the situation, this might indicate low self-esteem. For example, spilling a drink and reacting as if you've done something catastrophic. This tendency to over-apologise often stems from feeling unworthy or fearing that you've let others down.
How a Clinical Psychologist Can Help: In therapy, a clinical psychologist can help you identify why you feel the need to apologise excessively and work with you on building confidence in your actions. Through guided self-reflection, you’ll learn to recognise when an apology is truly necessary – and when it’s your low self-esteem talking.
5. You Wait for Others to Make the First Move
Do you find yourself always waiting for others to ask you to hang out, make plans, or suggest ideas? This might stem from a fear of rejection or a belief that you’re not worth someone else’s time or attention. When your self-esteem is low, you may hesitate to take initiative, fearing you’ll be turned down or ignored.
How a Clinical Psychologist Can Help: A clinical psychologist can support you in understanding these fears and guide you toward taking more initiative in your relationships. Therapy can help you trust that you have something valuable to offer, and you’ll learn how to engage confidently with others without the constant fear of rejection.
Why Seek Help from a Clinical Psychologist?
Low self-esteem can seep into many aspects of your life, from how you interact with others to how you view your own potential. A clinical psychologist offers a safe space for you to explore the deeper roots of your low self-esteem and helps you develop effective strategies to improve your self-worth.
By working with a clinical psychologist, you can gain the confidence to express yourself, trust your own decisions, and navigate life without constantly second-guessing your value. Whether through cognitive behavioural techniques, self-compassion exercises, or learning practical boundary-setting skills, therapy can give you the tools you need to break free from the grip of low self-esteem.
Final Thoughts
Recognising the signs of low self-esteem is the first step toward addressing it. If any of the signs mentioned resonate with you, reaching out to a clinical psychologist can be a valuable next step. With the right support, you can begin to change the way you see yourself, build a healthier self-image, and move towards a more fulfilling life.
Remember, everyone deserves to feel confident and valued – and that includes you.