I've been well aware I suffer from low self-esteem for many years and have worked with a therapist to try and address this but it's obvious I've got as far as I can go with my current therapist. Before I just change therapists I'm looking for empirical evidence from HN readers that might have gone a different route that has yielded tangible (if personal) results. Does anyone have anything to recommend?
Ask HN: Courses/resources to improve my self-esteem and believe in myself more?
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Re: Ask HN: Courses/resources to improve my self-esteem and believe in myself more?
#2Have you noticed moments or sequences when you have not had low self-esteem? For those times, what has been different? What sorts of situations increase your self-esteem?
Re: Ask HN: Courses/resources to improve my self-esteem and believe in myself more?
#3I think you may find Albert Ellis's work valuable (he founded the Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy process, a cousin of CBT). He discusses self-esteem a lot in his work, particularly around the risks of both low self-esteem and high self-esteem.
You may also find meditation helpful--particularly some kind of light noting practice (perhaps not Mahasi-style noting, but Shinzen Young's Unified Mindfulness/See Hear Feel technique). Deconstructing emotions and thoughts into their constituent parts not only will allow you to see your patterns more clearly, but breaking a complex emotion down also makes it more manageable to deal with.
As with most habits, you'll get most out of what you're willing to do not only during therapy sessions or formal meditation sits, but during every day life.
Re: Ask HN: Courses/resources to improve my self-esteem and believe in myself more?
#4Generally speaking: I really liked “The obstacle is the way”.
But I have a question: is there any particular part of your life you notice especially low self-esteem?
Re: Ask HN: Courses/resources to improve my self-esteem and believe in myself more?
#5An anabolics course?
Re: Ask HN: Courses/resources to improve my self-esteem and believe in myself more?
#6As someone who is also suffering from low self-esteem issues for long time please see a therapist (not CBT therapy, I'd argue a lot of self-therapy books philosophically are some variations of CBT techniques).
My self-esteem issues are the products of childhood abuse and trauma. I was in denial about my trauma, but therapy helped me accept the reality and work on treating the root cause, not the the symptomps. Your self-esteem issues might not root from abuse. But it's a good idea to get help from a professional. Otherwise you might be just treating the symptomps, not the disease itself.
Re: Ask HN: Courses/resources to improve my self-esteem and believe in myself more?
#7If you are happy with your current medications, try Vitamin D if you are in a cloudy area or do not get out often.
If you're good on those things, try increasing your exercise level. Walk/run/sprint or lifting. You can do body weight exercise at home if you do not feel comfortable in a gym just yet.
If you are happy with your exercise level, pick up a new hobby, tech or otherwise.
Re: Ask HN: Courses/resources to improve my self-esteem and believe in myself more?
#8There are some good videos on YouTube- charisma on demand, Vanessa van Edwards, school of life, Jordan Peterson
IMO, it can be difficult to overcome this all by yourself. Having someone in your life who is willing to help goes a long way
Re: Ask HN: Courses/resources to improve my self-esteem and believe in myself more?
#9Life lessons from clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQZmtHjTgPB-NMBr1QmN0...
Edit: Why the downvotes? His lessons surrounding common issues in life that he's seen in therapy sessions are authentic and incredibly helpful.
Re: Ask HN: Courses/resources to improve my self-esteem and believe in myself more?
#10This is going to sound like circular reasoning, but bear with me:
In order to raise self esteem, one must do esteemable things.
Volunteer, be kind, let people in in traffic, work out, do these things consciously. You have to spend energy every day. Choose to spend it in positive ways.
Note: the results are not instantaneous. Nor are they overpowering. It's subtle, and you often only notice after things have been better for a while. Sometimes, others in your life notice for you.
Try to stick with it for 90 days. Worst case scenario, you made the world a little bit better for three months. Hard to lose.