How to Know If You Have Low Self-Esteem: Signs, Symptoms, and Support

By Growth Era Counseling & Wellness

We all have days when our confidence wavers or we second-guess ourselves. But when self-doubt becomes the lens you see yourself through day after day, it may be a sign of low self-esteem—and it can quietly shape the way you think, feel, relate, and live.

At Growth Era Counseling & Wellness, we help individuals untangle the roots of low self-esteem with care and compassion. You deserve to feel at home in yourself—not just performing confidence, but truly believing in your worth.

If you’ve been wondering why you feel “not good enough” no matter what you do, here are some signs you might be struggling with low self-esteem—and how therapy can help you begin to shift that narrative.

What Is Self-Esteem, Really?

Self-esteem is your overall sense of self-worth—how much you believe you are valuable, capable, and deserving of care, respect, and love.

Low self-esteem isn’t just about feeling insecure. It’s about living with an inner voice that constantly questions your value or assumes you’re not enough—even when the outside world might see someone strong or accomplished.

Low self-esteem often stems from early life experiences:

• Critical caregivers

• Emotional neglect

• Chronic comparison

• Trauma or bullying

• Rigid expectations around achievement or perfection

Over time, these messages can become internalized, running silently in the background of your daily life.

 Common Signs of Low Self-Esteem

If you're not sure whether self-esteem might be something you're struggling with, consider whether any of the following feel familiar:

1. Constant Self-Criticism

You have a harsh inner voice that focuses on your flaws and mistakes. Even small missteps feel like proof that you’re not good enough.

“Why did I say that?”
“Of course I messed it up.”
“Everyone else is better than me.”

2. Struggling to Accept Compliments

You feel uncomfortable or suspicious when someone praises you. You might downplay your efforts or assume they’re “just being nice.”

3. Over-Apologizing or People-Pleasing

You say sorry for things that aren’t your fault. You may go out of your way to avoid conflict, meet others’ needs, or seek approval—at the cost of your own well-being.

4. Avoiding Challenges or New Opportunities

You might talk yourself out of trying something because you fear failure—or believe you don’t deserve success in the first place.

5. Perfectionism and Procrastination

You feel like you have to be perfect to be acceptable, which can lead to stress, avoidance, or burnout. Nothing ever feels “good enough,” including you.

6. Feeling Like an Imposter

Even when you succeed, you feel like a fraud—like you’ve tricked everyone into thinking you’re competent. You fear being “found out.”

7. Difficulty Setting Boundaries

You say yes when you want to say no. You may not believe your needs matter as much as others’, or fear rejection if you assert yourself.

8. Comparing Yourself Constantly

You look at others and always come up short—whether it's how you look, how you parent, how successful you are, or how “together” your life seems.

How Low Self-Esteem Affects Your Life

Low self-esteem doesn’t just affect how you feel about yourself—it shapes:

• The relationships you choose and tolerate

• The way you handle setbacks or criticism

• Your career decisions and life goals

• Your willingness to take care of your needs

• Your mental health, including anxiety and depression

It can also lead to chronic stress, burnout, emotional exhaustion, and a feeling that you’re “never enough” no matter what you achieve.

But here’s the good news: self-esteem is not fixed. It can be rebuilt.

How Therapy Can Help You Reclaim Your Self-Worth

Therapy offers a space where you don’t have to perform, prove, or pretend.

Instead, you can:

• Explore the roots of your low self-esteem with compassion and curiosity

• Identify and challenge the critical inner voice that keeps you stuck

• Build emotional resilience by learning how to speak to yourself more gently

• Practice boundaries and self-respect in your relationships

• Discover your inherent worth—not based on what you do, but on who you are

Healing low self-esteem isn’t about becoming perfect—it’s about becoming more fully yourself, with all your flaws, feelings, and enough-ness intact.

 You Deserve to Feel at Home in Yourself

If the way you talk to yourself is filled with pressure, judgment, or self-doubt—you’re not alone. And you don’t have to stay stuck in that pattern.

At Growth Era Counseling & Wellness, we walk alongside individuals who are learning how to feel worthy again—not just when they’re achieving or people-pleasing, but always.

Therapy can be a place to remember (or discover for the first time) that your worth is not up for debate.

Reach out today to begin your journey toward self-trust, self-respect, and self-worth. You are enough, and you’re allowed to believe that.