Common characteristics of people with low self-esteem include higher levels of anxiety, problems with social interaction, preoccupation with others' perceived opinions, and sometimes high-risk behaviors, such as substance abuse or eating disorders. Causes of low self-esteem are frequently traced to abusive or dysfunctional early years, and this condition can persist well into adulthood. The impact of low self-esteem on relationships can be especially troubling. It is not uncommon for people with low self-esteem to have difficulty getting along with co-workers or to experience conflict with spouses or significant others.
Those with low self-esteem can often put themselves down and express opinions that they are not good enough. They also usually hesitate to take on new endeavors due to fear of failure, and they can have difficulty expressing their thoughts or beliefs with confidence. Many people with persistent self-esteem problems will dismiss or minimize any positive feedback they receive, and they often attribute their successes mainly to luck even when there is evidence to the contrary. Low self-esteem can create an excessive mental preoccupation with the negative side of situations, and this problem can lead many people to have diminished expectations for their general quality of life.
Trouble interacting positively with other people is another common characteristic of low self-esteem. Some people with low self-esteem often experience anxiety over how they think others perceive them. Many avoid social situations out of fear they may say something another person may not like, and they also may interpret even slight criticism as proof that they are indeed worthless and incompetent. Others who have low self-esteem may alternately become overbearing, aggressive, or unpleasant to other people in attempts to make themselves appear superior.
Some people with low self-esteem engage in various habits that are detrimental to their health. These can include under- or overeating, excessive alcohol consumption, or sometimes too-frequent intense exercise, such as body-building, to create a good physical appearance as compensation for their negative inner mental state. Low self-esteem has often created an unconscious message within these people that they do not matter enough to maintain balanced health.
Treating low self-esteem is often more complex than some people initially believe. Some scientific studies have proven that simply hearing a stream of positive praise will generally not remedy low self-esteem. It can actually worsen the problem in some people. Successful ways of raising self-esteem include treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy under the care of a professional psychologist.