Does My Child Have Low Self-esteem?

Is your child likely to cheat?

Does your child have a reluctance to try new things?

Does your child show anger and despair?

Does your child tend to overcompensate?

Does your child blame others for failures?

Does your child have a reluctance to accept praise?

Does your child act out or experiments with drugs?

Based on your answers, it is unlikely that your child has low self-esteem. This is positive news. Self-esteem is the general opinion someone has about him/herself. Having high, but realistic self-esteem is of great importance to good mental health. Self-esteem is shaped during an individual’s childhood experiences. This means that parents, friends, and teachers play an important role on how self-esteem develops. A child needs to be treated with love and kindness to develop positive self-esteem. If a child is treated poorly or teased, self-esteem can suffer damage on the long-term. Children are very concerned about other’s opinions, especially during their teen years.

Based on your answers, your child is displaying some signs of low self-esteem. It is very normal to experience periods of low self-esteem, but prolonged low self-esteem can have a negative influence on someone’s quality of life. It can lead to more severe problems, including depression and drug or alcohol abuse. In worst cases it can even cause suicidal thoughts. If you feel that low-self esteem is interfering with your child’s day-to-day life, he or she may benefit from therapy. Talk to your doctor to understand what is best for your child.

Unfortunately, your child is displaying the symptoms typically seen among individuals who have low self-esteem. It may be important to talk with your doctor about this issue. If low self-esteem is having a negative impact on your child’s quality of life, therapy may be necessary. This can include for example self-talk, or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT will help your child to better understand their beliefs and to take steps to improve their daily lives. Results are likely to be lasting, because patients will learn new coping mechanisms.