Some Facts about Self-Esteem
How to achieve healthy self-esteem
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Healthy self-esteem
enables an individual to appreciate
their positive attributes |
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Healthy self-esteem acts
as a kind of buffer against the hard
things life throws in our way |
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Individuals with
healthy-self esteem are well adjusted,
more independent, and less defensive and
feel less threatened by those who
exhibit differences |
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People who learn how
to overcome setbacks and recognize their
ability to make choices that affect
their lives are more likely to enjoy a
healthy level of self-esteem and
therefore, by avoiding serious pitfalls
in life, are able to enjoy a rich and
rewarding existence |
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You cannot improve someone
else's self-esteem. What you can do is
create the conditions that enable
adolescents to achieve a healthy level
of self-esteem |
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People engaged in
activities that encourage them to
contribute, make important decisions,
solve problems, have an opinion, set
goals and make choices are more likely
to exhibit increased levels of
self-esteem |
What are the affects of
low self-esteem?
Low self-esteem can lead to:
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Alcohol and drug abuse |
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Violence |
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Suicide |
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Teenage pregnancy |
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Eating disorders |
It can also result in problems such as:
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Poor academic achievement |
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Anxiety attacks |
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Defensiveness |
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Jealousy |
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Reluctance to take on new
challenges |
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Inability to enjoy
fulfilling relationships |
Why are
adolescents more likely to exhibit poor
self-esteem and why is it so detrimental?
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These years are filled
with so many physical and emotional
changes, which can have an adverse
affect on developing one's sense of
identity |
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At this stage in life
individuals become more aware of
personal limitations and faults and
begin comparing capabilities with peers |
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A girl's sense of identity
at this time is intricately linked to
her body image. Girls therefore often
see diet as a solution to their
problems, leading to painful eating
disorders |
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