Are you a "people pleaser" to the point you neglect your own needs?

Do you struggle to speak up and ask for what you want and need?

Do you get overwhelmed when things don't go your way?

Does fear of criticism keep you from going after your goals in life and love?

If so, you may not be taking proper care of your emotional and physical health. When this happens many start using food as their primary source of self-care because it is quick, cheap and easy. We see this often with our clients. Using and even abusing food feeds a downward spiral of guilt and self-loathing. It takes therapy to change these life-long patterns of thinking and behavior.

Increase your self-esteem, develop the relationships you want, and excel professionally, personally and academically.

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Self-esteem is the combination of self-efficacy and self-respect. Self-efficacy is the belief that you can handle whatever life throws at you and that you have something to offer the world. Self-respect is the confidence that you deserve to be happy and that others don't have to fail for you to succeed.

The most common cause of low self-esteem is destructive criticism. If you have spent a lifetime hearing "you don't deserve it," "don't be silly," "you'll never amount to anything," or other comments like this it can become a personal belief about your worth.

The underlying emotion behind low self-esteem is fear. The more you’ve been criticized, the more you’re afraid of being criticized. You're afraid of what other people think about you. You wonder if they like you, or if you've done something that will make them think less of you. The effect of destructive criticism is that you're afraid of doing or saying anything wrong because the smallest mistake could expose you to more criticism or ridicule.

So how do you improve your self-esteem? You don't improve your self-esteem by working harder or trying to be more perfect. That never fills the void of poor self-esteem. You improve your self-esteem by letting go of the fears that undermine your self-esteem.

Call (443) 602-6515 or email info@thebodyimagecenter.com for more information or to discuss how we can be of help.

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