How to improve self-esteem in addicted people? Guidelines to follow
Surely, you have ever wondered what self-esteem is and what it has to do with the person and especially with addiction problems. Well the answer is "a lot". In fact, self-esteem is directly related to our feelings, our thoughts, and our own perception of who we are.
Sometimes it can be more or less easy to determine if your self-esteem is at a certain level. However, it is very possible that even if you have it through the roof, it is actually at a low level, but that you refuse to see it and try to make up for it. Addictions often lead to low spirits, and that can cause self-esteem to crash.
- Related article: "The 4 types of self-esteem: do you value yourself?"
Is my self-esteem affected?
To know how to measure something, it is necessary to be aware of what it is that we measure. Now, here are some questions so that you can elucidate what is the level of your self-esteem:
- Do you think you deserve to be loved?
- Do you have something positive that you can contribute to others?
- Do you feel satisfaction with yourself?
- How is your attitude towards you?
- Do you think you are capable of doing things as well as others at least?
If you answered "Yes" to most of the questions, it can be said that you have healthy self-esteem.. Otherwise, it would be good for you to learn to appreciate yourself, and if necessary, to seek specialized help for it. But also, if you suffer from an addiction and the answers have been affirmative, do not doubt that asking for advice is the best you can do.
Denial of the problem due to lack of acceptance and resistance to treatment for recovery is very common in addicted people.. Anyway, if you have come this far, you are one step away from changing your life, to savoring freedom and well-being, with yourself and with your loved ones. Trust the experts and don't wait any longer to get out of the addictive maze, regardless of the answer to these questions. The self-deception characteristic of addiction always tries to camouflage the reality of how you really perceive yourself.
- You may be interested in: "The 14 most important types of addictions"
Some keys about self-esteem
You should know that self-esteem is influenced by many factors that can become decisive. Basically, internal and external factors influence self-esteem.
When we talk about external factors, we refer to our personal and family relationship with other people, how they have treated us, what messages they have transmitted to us and the trust they have placed in us as individuals. That is, in the event that they have placed that trust, have made us see our positive aspects and minimized our defects, self-esteem will be high. However, if the circumstance has been the opposite (too many criticisms, judgments and demands), surely our self-esteem will be on the ground.
It is important to note that only if you have a reasonably healthy level of self-esteem can you help another person improve it. It is logical to think that if yours is low, you cannot extol the virtues of another, or even see them. It is a vicious cycle that must be broken.
Regarding internal factors, genetics have a lot to say. There are many studies that suggest that our personality traits have a lot to do with how we see ourselves. People who tend to be depressed or anxious generally have a harder time accepting themselves for who they are and evaluating themselves positively. For this reason, these people are going to have to make a great effort to bring their self-esteem to healthy levels.
So, and to conclude, we will say that self-esteem is the conjunction of both aspects, genetic inheritance and external factors. This is what determines the actual level.
Why do you have to have healthy self-esteem?
To this question it can be answered that thanks to self-esteem, we can achieve three main benefits for our mental health.
First, having good self-esteem allows us to better cope with the difficulties we encounter in life. By perceiving ourselves positively, we are better able to trust ourselves to overcome those obstacles. We will be more decisive.
Second, we will have the ability to continue advancing in pursuit of our goals with a better chance of achieving them. We will be believing in ourselves and that will allow us to get closer to what we want in a more sincere and more realistic way. It will make us more capable.
Relationships with others will be healthier. High self-esteem will allow us avoid toxic relationships and excessively dependent. We will be able to choose who we want in our lives and the contact with them will be what we want to have. We will be happier.
How can we achieve good self-esteem if we suffer from an addiction?
To help you love yourself a little more, from Fromm Wellness we want to provide you with some ideas that may help you. It is important that you work them daily, just a few minutes to do so.
1. You are a unique person
Nobody is like you, and that's why you don't have to always be comparing yourself to others.
2. Have your own criteria and do not believe what they say about you blindly
It is necessary to question oneself, but it is necessary to identify the limits and above all the suitable means to do it. Individual and group therapy are very effective.
3. Everything you have achieved has great value, never forget it
But sometimes suffering, anxiety or discomfort can appear simultaneously. Thus it is important to monitor your goals and objectives based on other personal and intimate parameters.
4. It is normal to make mistakes and that is why you have to be tolerant, but not with others, but with yourself
We all make mistakes, and sometimes being aware of our mistakes damages our self-esteem and that is why we try to hide them or bypass them without analyzing how to do better the Next time, assuming the mistake from learning.
5. Be patient
Do not pretend to achieve your goal in a short time. It is a process, and it has a duration. Each person works differently, and that is why the treatments are individualized and adapted to each case.