Many people throw around the term “narcissist” very casually, using it to describe an individual with high self-esteem rather than one who actually has narcissistic personality disorder. Below, we explain what narcissism is and how it differs from self-confidence. What Is Narcissism? Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental health condition characterized by an excessive need to feel important and impress other people. Narcissistic individuals often: Have an inflated sens

Having a low self-esteem is something many people of all ages deal with. While a low self-esteem is not considered a mental health condition itself, the way we think about ourselves directly impacts our mental health and overall well-being. What is Self-Esteem? Self-esteem refers to the way people feel about themselves. Someone with a healthy or high self-esteem thinks positively about themselves and their abilities. They believe they are deserving of respect and have no

At no other time in history have schools had to face so many challenges. The COVID-9 pandemic required teachers, students, and faculty to quickly pivot and move classes to an online environment during times of great uncertainty. Despite the work involved to keep education going, students of all ages have still been significantly impacted by the stress of lockdowns. Many students are dealing with mental health challenges as a result. A recent study looked at 195 students at a

Low self-esteem is a common mental health issue among people of all ages. It is usually the result of childhood trauma. When we experience emotional injuries at an early age, we tend to disown parts of ourselves as a defense mechanism. By only displaying those aspects of our personhood that are likely to be rewarded by our caretakers, we begin a practice of alienating ourselves from ourselves. While this coping strategy is effective during childhood, it does a great disservic

Do you struggle with self-esteem? Are you constantly comparing yourself to others? Do you have a belief that something is inherently wrong with you or that you are less than? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, then you have an inner critic that is out of control! How the Inner Critic Develops It’s hard to imagine that anything labeled as a “critic” could have our best intentions at heart. But the truth is, for most of us, the inner critic, also referred to

The origin of many human behaviors can be batted around in the nature/nurture debate. But when it comes to self-esteem, we know with absolute certainty there are always external causes of it. No child is born with low self-esteem; rather self-critical thought patterns develop over time as a result of external stimuli and input from others. Below are some causes of low self-esteem. However, remember low self-esteem can be improved and just listing out potential causes doesn’t

Self-esteem is an opinion we have of ourselves; a way of placing value on ourselves as people. While we may voice characteristics such as “I’m American” or “I have brown eyes,” these are facts that don’t carry a negative or positive connotation. A low self-esteem suggests we carry a negative opinion of ourselves. For example, “I’m unattractive” or “I’m not good enough.” Most of us have mixed opinions of ourselves, but if your overall opinion is that you are an inferior or ina