Low Self-Esteem and Depression
There is a fair amount of overlap between depression and low self-esteem. In this article, we will explore the overlap further, discuss which comes first and share our tips on how to overcome low self-esteem and depression.
Low Self-Esteem
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There is a fair amount of overlap between depression and low self-esteem. In this article, we will explore the overlap further, discuss which comes first and share our tips on how to overcome low self-esteem and depression.
Depression is a mental illness. There are effective, evidence-based treatments for depression. Depression is more than just sadness. When you are depressed, you struggle to do your day-to-day tasks, feel hopeless and no longer enjoy doing things.
Low self-esteem, on the other hand, is not a mental illness. Low self-esteem can be defined as poor regard for oneself, lacking confidence or feeling incompetent and not worthy. Put simply, self-esteem is your opinion of yourself. When it is low, you think of yourself too poorly.
People with low self-esteem feel unhappy with themselves most of the time. They tend to be critical, judge themselves as inferior and struggle to accept compliments. Someone with a low self-esteem may be afraid of trying new things, fear judgement and not care for themselves.
Chapter 1:What Causes Depression and Low Self-Esteem
Not surprisingly, many of the contributors or triggers for low self-esteem can also trigger depression. For instance, an unhappy childhood where parents or teachers were extremely critical can cause low self-esteem. We know from research that unhealthy relationships during childhood a risk factor for later-life depression.
Even in adulthood, ongoing stressful relationships, domestic abuse, financial trouble, all of these ongoing stresses can all cause loss of self-esteem. The same factors can also lead to depression.
Chapter 2:So What Comes First? Low Self-Esteem or Depression
Depression is a mental disorder. They are defined as discrete episodes of sadness, poor sleep, low energy and other characteristic symptoms. Low confidence can be a symptom or sign of depression.
For example, John, who was bullied in school, develops a serious heart condition as an adult. He is highly stressed, and his self-esteem or confidence drops. Soon after his heart condition diagnosis, he develops an episode of depression. Fortunately for John, he soon sees a good doctor and is started on treatment for his depression. After a couple of weeks, John depression ends, however, his low self-esteem still remains, however, it is not as bad.As you can see from this example, there is an overlap between depression and low self-esteem. You can have both depression and low self-esteem at the same time, or you can have one or the other.
Chapter 3:Telling a Part Low Self-Esteem and Depression
How to overcome low self-esteem and depression, in part, depends on telling them apart. Low self-esteem is about confidence, how you view yourself or your opinion of yourself. Low self-esteem can be one of the many symptoms or signs of depression. Depression is a broader concept. There are different features or symptoms of depression, such as low mood, no appetite, changes to sleep patterns and of course, low self-esteem.
If you are unsure whether you have low confidence or depression, it is probably a good idea to speak to a mental health professional. Why? Because both depression and low self-esteem can cause significant distress and hurt when left untreated.
Chapter 4:Seeking Help and Other Options
Low Self-Esteem
Learn evidence-based scientific ways of coping with chronic fatigue
99 Lessons
3 hours
- Educational Content
- Quizzes
- Self-reflection material
- Suggestions & feedback
- Worksheet, tips & tools to use
€9.00
€12.00
25% discount
