5 concerning things low self esteem can do to your body

We all have days when we’re not feeling great about ourselves. Some days we feel too bloated to wear our favorite dress. Other days we feel inadequate at work because a co-worker or customer made a rude comment. Feeling low self esteem once in a while is normal. But if you’re suffering from an unwavering low self esteem, bad feelings about yourself that you can’t seem to shake off, that constant negative outlook can have severe consequences on your body and mind. If you’re feeling this, hey. We get you. We’ve all been there, too. Just know you are incredible, and stronger than you know. Keep that in mind the next time you feel crappy about yourself.

Here are 5 effects low esteem can have if when you have low self esteem (and what you can do to help yourself).

1Low self esteem can cause anxiety and depression.

When you’re constantly thinking that you’re not good enough in any capacity — physically, mentally, or emotionally — this self-inflicted negativity can cause you to develop anxiety and depression.

Of course, training your brain to believe in yourself is much easier said than done. But starting small with a daily mantra or finding an outlet that makes you feel more confident (like fashion, makeup, art, or writing) can help ward off anxiety and slowly but surely help you to become more sure of yourself.

2You can develop unhealthy habits, which can damage your overall health.

If you’re unhappy with the way your body looks, you might try to change your diet and become more active (there are many ways we try to remedy feeling icky with your body — these are just two of them). But if you’re not seeing the results you want after doing so, that diet could turn into starvation and your gym sessions could turn into obsessive workouts lasting for hours, leaving your body worn out.

Drugs and excessive alcohol can also come into play when dealing with low self esteem. And when we say “excessive” we mean an amount you understand is too much for your body. Those substances allow you to forget your pain, which can allow you to have fun for a few hours. But it’s easy to rely on drugs and alcohol to keep that pain at bay.

If you find yourself in an unhealthy routine, it’s time to figure out other ways to boost your confidence that don’t leave your body feeling like a drained battery. We also recommend making an appointment with your doctor. These habits can be seriously dangerous (and sometimes addicting) — it can be good for you to talk about them with a professional.

3Your body can become weak and tired.

Some of us will tell ourselves we’re not good enough to get out of bed in the morning. Or that we don’t deserve to leave the house to go grab a coffee. So we end up sitting at home, prohibiting our bodies from getting fresh air and movement.

When your negative thoughts come around and try to prevent you from doing something progressive and fun, ignore them. Head outside, go for a walk, or even get into your car and just drive. Do something to keep your mind and body active.

4Your brain becomes uninspired.

This effect goes hand-in-hand with depression because constant thoughts of not being good enough can cause you to stop doing the things you love.

If you’ve noticed that you’re not taking part in your favorite pastimes and hobbies, ask yourself why. And if your answer has anything to do with how other people perceive you, knock off that thinking right now! (Or at least try — we know it can be hard.) Hobbies are for your own pleasure. Let yourself have fun because you deserve it. Everyone needs a source of inspiration to keep them going.

5You’re often angry at yourself and others. This anger and stress can lead to heart disease.

Not looking or feeling a certain way can be extremely frustrating. That low self esteem can cause you to not only be disappointed in yourself but also be angry for not being who you want to be. Unfortunately, when you’re frustrated with yourself, you are much more likely to get snippy with others.

Being angry and stressed out all the time can lead to heart disease and frequent anger and stress-related blood pressure spikes can damage your blood vessels, heart and kidneys. If you’re experiencing anger due to low self esteem, see a doctor and talk to them about how you can manage those feelings.

It takes a lot of work to pull yourself out of the overcast of low self esteem. But by reminding yourself daily that you are beautiful inside and out, that you are good enough, and that you can forgive yourself for your mistakes, the better you will feel and more you will love yourself.

If you’re experiencing depression, make an appointment with your doctor. Read more about symptoms and treatment here — but just know that you are not alone.