: 2007-09-02

says:

Like you I've struggled with self-esteem but I gave up struggling and began to accept that who I am is OK.  If I'm ok with it then others can be ok with it too.  I also used the technique of looking at myself and asking myself if I would be proud of someone else myself if I knew someone who was doing exactly what I was doing - when I realized that the answer was of course I would be I realized that my self-doubts were silly and self-indulgent and I simply stopped and began telling myself that I was ok and Ok was good enough.

Accept what is, it isn't what it was and it won't be what it will be - it just is what it is.  When you can do that you will have begun the journey of self-acceptance and your low-self-esteem will simply vanish.  Good luck with it.  I know you will succeed.  Hugs.

Jenna

mike_msm: 2007-08-31

says:

I am trying every day. And sometimes I find it terribly difficult. The tools are helping a great deal. Also I read a book about anxiety which I find helpful, because it helped me understand that a lot of what I was dealing with was anxiety. Its helped too.  From Panic To Power, dealing with anxiety. This book by Lucinda Bassett is full of real life strategies for dealing with anxiety.

So I'd say..."Belive in yourself or no one else will?

goldendiamondpanda: 2007-08-30

says:

I haven't overcome it but I'm hoping to. So this is kind of hypothetical, maybe my thoughts will be of some use, maybe not...

When you try and combat negative self-talk, do you find that you don't really believe the good statements you use against the damaging ones? All I can say is keep going. You've been down on yourself a long time, it will take a while to retrain yourself to think positively about you. And take it easy on yourself, too, if you think that change isn't happening fast enough. 

Is your low self esteem something that you spend less effort trying to change than you spend on other things in your life, because it's not a top priority? If so, what would you do if it was your top priority?

Best of luck x