What are the characteristics of people with low self-esteem

People with low self-esteem often exhibit characteristics such as self doubt, excessive sensitivity, and avoidance of challenges, which may affect their social, career development, and mental health. The formation of low self-esteem is related to factors such as growth experience, social evaluation, and psychological trauma, mainly manifested as a lack of self-worth, excessive dependence on others' evaluations, fear of failure, social avoidance, and perfectionism tendencies.

1. Lack of self-worth

Low self-esteem individuals often underestimate their own abilities, ignore personal achievements, and attribute success to luck or external factors. They may repeatedly engage in negative self talk, such as thinking they are not good enough or not liked. This cognitive bias can lead to sustained low mood and even trigger symptoms of anxiety or depression.

2. Over reliance on others' evaluations

This group of people often confirm their self-worth through external feedback, are extremely sensitive to criticism, and are prone to self doubt due to negative evaluations. They may excessively please others and suppress their true needs in exchange for recognition, which may lead to imbalanced interpersonal relationships and psychological exhaustion in the long run.

3. Fear of failure and avoidance of challenges

To avoid exposure, individuals with low self-esteem often avoid situations that are competitive or require showcasing their abilities. They may give up career development opportunities or pre-set failure outcomes before the task begins. This avoidance behavior will strengthen the sense of helplessness and form a vicious cycle.

4. Social Avoidance and Loneliness

Due to the fear of rejection or judgment, individuals with low self-esteem may reduce their social activities and exhibit behaviors such as restraint and silence. Long term social withdrawal can exacerbate feelings of loneliness, and some people may use false social masks to conceal their anxiety, which can actually deepen their inner barriers.

5. Perfectionism and Self Criticism

Some low self-esteem individuals compensate for their feelings of inferiority by setting excessively high standards, but even minor mistakes can trigger strong self blame. This pattern of demanding perfection often leads to procrastination and fatigue, which in turn reduces actual achievements and further validates its negative self-awareness. Improving low self-esteem requires gradually establishing objective self-awareness, which can start by recording personal strengths and setting achievable small goals. Regular exercise helps to enhance positive emotions, and group psychotherapy can provide a safe environment for practicing social interaction. Cognitive behavioral therapy has a significant effect on correcting self denying thinking, and professional psychological support can be sought when necessary. In daily life, you can try to transform self-criticism into neutral descriptions, such as changing 'I messed up again' to 'this time the result was not ideal,' but I have learned something from it. Long term practice of self-care can help rebuild a healthy level of self-esteem.