Self-esteem and mental health

Self-esteem is the way we think about ourselves and the value we place on ourselves.

We all criticise ourselves from time to time, but if you often think badly about yourself or judge yourself negatively, you may have low self-esteem. You may not know the cause of your low self-esteem, but there are steps you can take to improve it.
If you have low self-esteem you may have difficulty with relationships and problems at work or school. It can, also, be associated with health problems such as depression and anxiety, eating disorders, social phobia, attention deficit disorder and substance abuse.

To improve your self-esteem you can:
–    think about things you are good at — what are your strengths?
–    celebrate the small things in your life — give yourself a pat on the back when you 
achieve even a small thing
–    challenge your negative thinking — look for alternative explanations and put 
things into perspective
–    think about things you can change — don’t worry about things you can’t change
avoid trying to do things perfectly — perfection is not possible
–    stop beating yourself up if you make mistakes — everyone makes mistakes
do things you enjoy — it’s easier to be positive when you are doing things you like
–    be with people who don’t bring you down
–    volunteer to help people — this can make you feel better about yourself
–    exercise — it can improve your mood
–    talk to your doctor, a counsellor, a close friend or a member of your family.

Sources: Health Direct