Low self-confidence, low self-esteem, negative self-image
Many relationships can be avoided, escaped from, or at least reduce the hold they have on us. But there is one relationship that we cannot escape, however much we may sometimes want to - that with ourselves. When there are gaps in our relationship with ourselves, it affects virtually every aspect of life, as this relationship is part of every other context. There are different ways of describing how a lack of trust and care for the self arises and affects us. Sometimes it is the words and perceptions of others that live on within us. Other times, it is a way of sparing others by making ourselves the punching bag. It is all too easy to compare our own worst qualities with someone else's best. We treat words differently and give them different meanings, but whether we are talking about self-confidence, self-esteem or self-image, it is in some way about how we see ourselves, our capabilities and what we deserve from the world.
Self-image
Often we do not have the same expectations of ourselves as of our fellow human beings. We tend to judge ourselves more harshly, expect more and at the same time be less apologetic about the conditions and limitations we have. It can be difficult to see ourselves from a different perspective than the one we are used to. This view has been shaped over the years, both by the way others see us and meet us, but also by the way we have met ourselves. Whether or not it is possible to see where the self-image was born, it is usually easy to see how it hinders us in the moment. Some people tell themselves that it is this self-image that has made us successful or spurred us on in life. But with a more realistic and reliable self-image, it is possible to create more reasonable expectations, a more forgiving attitude and thus become part of a broader community. Talking to a psychologist can be one way to work towards this.
Work on self-image in a psychotherapy session in Gothenburg
In psychotherapy, we always work on our relationship with ourselves, regardless of what else we are talking about. Through a trusting and non-judgmental relationship, it is possible to explore who we are in new ways. The relationship with ourselves is something we always carry with us and can be well worth trying to cultivate, deepen and develop. A particularly helpful way to work on our self-image is in group therapy. In a group, everyone works together to understand their relationships with themselves and others by exploring what is happening in the room. For many people, the idea of talking about themselves and their thoughts in a group is scary at first, but it is an effective way to work on their self-image. If you would like to know more about how to work on these issues in an individual or group psychotherapy session, please get in touch or book yourself in for a first session.
