Self-esteem, Self-confidence, and Mental Health

Do you understand the meaning of the terms self-esteem and self-confidence? Do they bring the same idea or different conceptions? How important are they to our mental health and our quality of life? The truth is that these constructs are distinct. However, they have the same role in our self-development, essential to improve our mood and help us cope with emotional distress.

Self-esteem is the assurance of our importance. Individuals with good self-esteem are sure about their good qualities and have a good perception of how they are loved and wanted. Some people spend their lives doubting their worth. These individuals believe that they do not deserve to get the unconditional love of others. Hence, they suppose their dignity is related to socioeconomic status, physical appearance, marital status, etc. While others have a positive perception about who they are and consider that they have enough value to be accepted and loved.

On the other hand, some individuals do not need conditioning to feel worthy of respect and admiration. Therefore, they have satisfactory self-esteem, which means more chances to develop positive feelings and thoughts about themselves and acquire emotional regulation and well-being.

Self-confidence is the belief in the ability to succeed in various areas of life, which varies among individuals. Many of us trust in our capacity to make friends, pass exams, learn new skills, get professional growth, and thrive. Self-confidence is possible with humans who have been encouraged to try to succeed and face challenges. Thus, persevering and triumphing in several fields of our existence can help us to develop a strong sense of confidence in our competence. So, self-esteem and self-confidence impact our ability to deal with stressful situations.

In addition, stress is a state or a condition of physical and mental discomfort developed for difficult and particular situations experienced by each individual. A stressful situation can be a home move, new challenges in a new job, a divorce, or any circumstance in which the individual needs to face new challenges.

Moreover, stress can be positive or negative. Eustress is a positive stress. It happens when the new challenger forces us to take action to solve the daily issues. Distress is the negative stress. It occurs when resources to deal with new threats are scarce. A distressful situation leads us to uncomfortable symptoms like anxiety.

Undoubtedly, preventing and managing stress is a successful way to protect our mental health. According to WHO , Mental health is a condition of mental and psychological well-being that empowers us to deal with the demanding challenges in our lives, such as coping with stressful situations. It also allows people to study, work, have healthy relationships, and contribute to their community’s development.

Whenever you feel worthless and unable to proceed with your life’s goals, psychotherapy can support you in finding the signs that show you your inner strengths that make you brave and unique.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a therapeutic approach that has been successful in a massive number of emotional problems, including anxiety disorders, depression, alcohol and drug addiction, binge eating, and a sort of psychological issues.

CBT has a range of core principles, including:

• Our feelings result from how we interpret the events around us.
• Emotional suffering is a consequence, in part, of disadvantageous or unhelpful thoughts.
• Emotional suffering is a consequence, in part, of learned patterns of dysfunctional behaviour.
• If you suffer from a psychological problem, don’t worry! You can learn about more functional ways to cope with it.
• CBT will also teach you a range of techniques that will relieve your unpeaceful symptoms.
• In CBT, the clients have some tasks to review their core beliefs and unhelpful thoughts to find more effective ways to solve their difficulties.
• CBT will teach you to name your feelings, identify situations that elicit inappropriate behaviour, and help you increase self-control.

In conclusion, CBT is a powerful approach that will enable you to reshape your thoughts and beliefs of unlovability or ineffectiveness, treat any psychological suffering you have, and improve your mental health and well-being.