Relationships and Self Esteem

Self esteem affects your relationships and the reverse is true also.

How does self esteem affect your relationships?

• Low self esteem will affect your relationships negatively
• It may make you attract negative people into your life

If you have low self esteem you won't be able to relate to others well. You may feel a lack of confidence in social situations. Your body language may be negative and you will not respond to others positively.

If you do not behave confidently others may take advantage of this by criticising you making you feel worse. Your manner is likely to make others respond coldly and this will damage your relationships further. Read how you can improve your communication skills.

Relationships you have had for a while can quickly go downhill if you suffer from low self esteem. Even the best of friends will grow tired of someone who cannot help themself.

You may take on a victim mentality. This means you will blame everyone and everything for how you feel. Your relationships will suffer because you will act like a victim rather than fight back.    

How do relationships affect your self esteem?

• Failing relationships can lower your self esteem and confidence
• Rejection often causes problems with self confidence and esteem
• Criticism generates low self esteem
• Abusive relationships have a hugely negative affect

Relationship problems really hit you hard. They can make you depressed and increase your stress. Arguments can really fuel your self doubt because you will exchange critical and hurtful words with the other person.

Relationship problems cause anger and frustration. Blame is thrown around as you argue. You may feel guilty afterwards and all these negative feelings can put a huge strain on your self esteem.

Rejection is another problem. If you feel rejected by a friend or partner this is a huge blow to your confidence and self esteem. Rejection can make you believe there is something wrong with you or that you deserve to be rejected.

Criticism is mutually damaging. Obviously, criticism from others will hurt you but when you criticize others you invite a negative response and possible guilt when you think about what you have said in the heat of the moment.

Abusive relationships can destroy your self esteem because abuse hurts on so many levels. The scars can last for the rest of a victim's life. Unfortunately some victims of abuse blame themselves which is particularly so with child victims.

Whatever problems you have in your relationships there are many ways to get help. I suggest you visit my online counseling page which explains just one way for you to find help.

How can you build your self esteem and improve your relationships?

I hope that this short article has been helpful to you. Take a look around at the rest of the site which is filled with information about different aspects of self esteem. I suggest the following pages:

Visit My self esteem FAQ page - answers to popular questions visitors ask me about self esteem and how to improve it.