INCREASING SELF ESTEEM Research indicates that people with low self esteem are often very self critical of themselves produced by their own internal self-critic. This self-critical dialogue can take the form of self-critical statements such as: “I’m no good” “I’m useless” “I’m dumb, I’m stupid” “I’m hopeless” “No one will want me” – as a partner or friend “No one will like me” “I cant cope” I shouldn’t have done that These self critical statements create a feeling of anxiety, despair, hopelessness and depression. In order to overcome this unhelpful mental habit 1. Learn how and why these thoughts are distorted thinking patterns. It if helps write these down in a journal. 2. Practice challenging the distorted thinking patterns and developing more healthy self talk and self affirming thinking patterns. 3. Train yourself to recognise and not listen to the self critical thoughts as they go through your mind. Instead let these thoughts go (after all they are just thoughts not facts), rather than buying into them or getting hooked or caught up in them. The good thing is that no matter what your circumstances are, past circumstances have been, you can change your self esteem, Self esteem is dependent upon how you view yourself and what you say to yourself and thus this can change.