Depression affects approximately 8% of all Americans every year. This may not sound like much, but when you consider this is an estimated 19.4 million American adults, you can see how serious this mental health disorder is. There are many symptoms of depression, from feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, sadness, irritability, outbursts, loss of interest, insomnia, and a general disinterest in normal activities. One of the common symptoms of depression is low self-esteem and low self-worth. Low self-esteem and depression actually go hand in hand together. So, how does low self-esteem impact depression?
How Does Low Self-Esteem Impact Depression?
Low self-esteem is actually a contributing factor to depression. Having low self-esteem can lead to negative thoughts and feelings about yourself and your life. Low self-esteem is characterized by negative feelings and opinions about yourself.
When someone has a healthy sense of self-esteem, they will feel more positive about themselves and, subsequently, about life in general. When we have low self-esteem, we may be highly critical of ourselves, from the way we look to the way we act, or about our financial situations, career, relationships—and everything in between.
Low self-esteem involves feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, or incapability, which is often shown in individuals who suffer from depression. When someone also has depression, their feelings of self-worth may worsen.
Studies also show that feelings of low self-esteem can also contribute to depression, anxiety, negative thoughts, and even thoughts about self-harm. Other studies show those with low self-esteem are around four times more likely to develop depression.
In addition, when someone has depression and low self-esteem, they will catastrophize situations, events, interactions, and how they see themselves. Guilt can also cause feelings of despair, which can further worsen symptoms of depression.
Finally, when someone has a lack of self-confidence and self-worth, they can feel knocked down and unable to build themselves back up, which is often how it feels to be depressed. To make matters worse, someone suffering from depression may also lose their sense of self-worth, ending in a vicious circle.
Is Low Self-Esteem a Risk Factor for Depression?
Yes, low self-esteem is a risk factor for developing depression, as it can worsen feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or lowness. In comparison, positive self-esteem and self-worth can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression.
How to Cope
Having an improved sense of self-esteem can help alleviate symptoms of depression, so what can you do to raise your self-esteem?
The first step is to try to block out your inner critic. This can be difficult, but when you become more aware of your inner critic, you can question what your mind is telling you. Try to realign your thoughts to look at things in a more positive light than a negative light.
This goes in hand with being kind to yourself. Imagine your thoughts are talking about your best friend rather than yourself. What would you tell them? Would you let them criticize themselves in this way? Try using positive affirmations every day to boost self-compassion and self-love.
You should also celebrate your wins and successes in life to build your confidence back up. In addition, stop comparing yourself to others. Everyone is different and has their own struggles and insecurities, but that doesn’t mean we are not worthy.
Think about what you are good at rather than your failures. Do things that you enjoy and that you’re skilled in more often.
Finally, try to build positive relationships where you feel supported. This could be through friends and family, but it is also worth speaking to a therapist for healthy coping mechanisms and guidance to learn how to boost your self-esteem.
