Low self-esteem especially affects relationships, and can cause arguments, insecurity, imbalance and other types of relationship difficulties. Here are some examples of how low self-esteem can affect your relationships: Not putting forward your needs.
Research has shown that self-esteem influences your relationship satisfaction as well as your partner's. Self-defeating thoughts and insecurities can affect the way you act with your partner. Low self-esteem can distort your perception of your partner, according to the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
Trust issues. As noted, people prone to self-sabotage often struggle to trust their partners. Experiencing insecurity in relationships due to a lack of trust can lead to accusations and jealous behaviors.
If your friend has low self esteem – especially when their partner is the one often at the root of their insecurity, that's a huge red flag. Abusers will often try to put down their victims.
Consequences of Low Self-Esteem
create anxiety, stress, loneliness, and increased likelihood of depression. cause problems with friendships and romantic relationships. seriously impair academic and job performance. lead to increased vulnerability to drug and alcohol abuse.
Signs of low self-esteem include: saying negative things and being critical about yourself. joking about yourself in a negative way. focusing on your negatives and ignoring your achievements.
Causes of low self-esteem
Unhappy childhood where parents (or other significant people such as teachers) were extremely critical. Poor academic performance in school resulting in a lack of confidence. Ongoing stressful life event such as relationship breakdown or financial trouble.
Physical, emotional, and mental abuse are undeniable red flags in any relationship. Physical abuse is easier to pick up. But emotional and mental abuse can be just as damaging in the long run.
Here are some signs that your relationship is making you depressed: You feel tired, bored and unfulfilled when you are together. The relationship makes you feel bad about yourself. You don't feel safe when you are with your partner.
Red flags in a relationship include excessive jealousy and frequent lying. You should also be wary of a partner who frequently criticizes you or puts you down. Another major red flag is an unwillingness to compromise — relationships shouldn't be one-sided.
Low self-esteem can cause people to be very dependent on the attentions of others—and in some cases, the attention of just one person isn't enough. It may also cause someone to feel insecure in their own relationship, so much so that they might cheat as a way of rejecting rather than being rejected.
Living with low self-esteem can harm your mental health and lead to problems such as depression and anxiety. You may also develop unhelpful habits, such as smoking and drinking too much, as a way of coping.
For someone with low self-esteem, lashing out or becoming aggressive towards others is a defense mechanism. If you feel that you are about to be exposed or criticized, attacking whoever might criticize you can be a sign of low self-esteem.
If you're not being satisfied emotionally, sexually or intellectually, it's probably time to move on. Ending a relationship is hard, but it's sometimes the only correct thing to do. If you and your partner aren't connecting on the most fundamental levels, it will be best for both of you to move on.
What does it mean to stonewall someone? In simple terms, stonewalling is when someone completely shuts down in a conversation or is refusing to communicate with another person.
Sign #1: You No Longer Look Forward To Seeing Them
The first sign you should end a relationship is a prominent one. If you realize you aren't looking forward to seeing someone or you're ignoring their calls and messages because you feel anxious about having to talk to them, you should break it off.
Low self-esteem can affect nearly every aspect of life. It can impact your relationships, job and health. But you can boost your self-esteem by taking cues from mental health counseling. Consider these steps, based on cognitive behavioral therapy.
Low self-esteem isn't a mental health problem in itself. But mental health and self-esteem can be closely linked. Some of the signs of low self-esteem can be signs of a mental health problem. This is especially if they last for a long time or affect your daily life.