rethinking self esteem #6

I attended the graduation ceremony of the alternative program at my school. Seven students gave speeches. The unofficial theme was "I had no confidence."

I didn't like myself. 

I had no self esteem.

I thought I was a bad kid.

Speech after speech, they described learning to care about themselves before they could care about schoolwork and attendance. 

This makes sense. If you don't care about yourself, you don't care what happens to you. 

If you don't care about yourself, of course you don't care about grades or any future life prospects contingent upon those grades. 

Self esteem should be the star of the show and we treat it as if it's a bit player. 

How you feel about yourself is not a byproduct or a symptom of some larger issue or diagnosis.

It IS the issue.

Self esteem is the foundation upon which all mental health is built. 

  

It should have its own diagnosis.  

Self esteem deficiency 

I have been in this field long enough to know most people aren't good at recognizing their strengths. 

They don't like who they are.

They lack the confidence to try and fail. 

Their sense of self is entirely dependent on what others think of them.

We need a diagnosis to help people directly confront the real issue holding them back from being their real, true self.

Self esteem deficiency 

for information on individual therapy and feeling better about yourself, contact me at bradleyjabel@gmail.com