Self-esteem can be described as the fundamental attitude we have toward ourselves. According to the dictionary, self-esteem means “an awareness of one’s own worth as a person.” The concept of self-esteem includes dimensions of how satisfied, proud, and accepting we are of ourselves and who we are. Feeling loved, seen, and accepted for who you are is considered important for developing healthy self-esteem. Many different types of difficulties often stem from having a poor relationship with oneself. This, in turn, can lead to low self-esteem and a sense of “losing oneself.”

Self-confidence is a closely related term. However, self-confidence refers more to our belief in our ability to perform in different areas of life. For example, you may have strong self-confidence regarding your work situation or your ability to handle practical tasks, while feeling less confident when it comes to approaching new people, dancing, or socializing. Read more

Being emotionally codependent means that you unconsciously make choices based on other people’s needs and feelings rather than your own. It also means that you listen to others’ opinions and thoughts and allow them to shape your own thinking and decisions. This can be described as being an unconscious victim of your environment, possibly because you are stuck in unhealthy relationships where you are driven by guilt. If you suppress your own emotions for long enough, you eventually lose touch with them. This can lead to emotional emptiness and a lack of energy. You lose yourself and your connection to who you are. Read more

We experience grief after important losses in life. The most significant and painful losses are usually the death of loved ones, but we can also experience grief after a separation, the end of a friendship, or the loss of a job. Other major life changes that can trigger grief reactions include when children move out of home and retirement.

Definition of grief An emotional reaction caused by a change or the ending of a familiar pattern of life. Essentially, most major changes can trigger grief reactions. Read more

Shame is a difficult emotion to carry because it affects self-respect. Shame, unlike feeling embarrassed, is a deeply rooted sense of not being lovable, not being good enough, and/or a feeling of disgust toward oneself. A person experiencing shame often feels inferior and inadequate. Shame lies beneath the surface and can sabotage life for many people.

Shame is one of the most difficult emotions to live with and work through. It is often deeply embedded, buried under many layers of fear, and can take a long time to heal. It is hard to face something you do not want to exist, something that feels forbidden to acknowledge. Shame does everything it can to protect itself from being seen.

Guilt can be described as an internal compass that tells us when we have done something wrong according to societal norms and moral values. Unlike shame, guilt can be repaired through action and making amends. Sometimes, however, unhealthy guilt arises — when you feel guilty for something that is not your responsibility, or when you take responsibility for what others do or have done. You may struggle to identify your own boundaries and often take responsibility for other people’s feelings as well.

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Sometimes we feel sad without understanding why, and many of us experience grief or low mood that may develop into depression at some point in life. It is possible to feel very sad and distressed without it necessarily being depression. However, if you still feel low after two weeks and also experience additional symptoms, it may be a case of depression. Studies show that nearly half of all women and about a quarter of all men experience depression at some point in their lives.

When you are affected by some form of depression, it can feel as if you are seeing the world through dark-tinted glasses. This means you tend to notice what goes wrong and interpret situations in a negative way. Looking back, you mainly remember difficulties and failures. The future also appears bleak, and you assume that nothing will get better. Common symptoms include sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, feelings of worthlessness, and sometimes suicidal thoughts. Life often feels meaningless, and it becomes difficult to feel genuine joy about anything.

I have experience working with therapy for mild depression. In cases of severe depression, you should primarily contact your primary healthcare center. Read more

Do you experience excessive and unrealistic worry that is persistent? The worry is often focused on health, work, finances, and safety. Many people may even feel anxious about simple everyday decisions such as cooking a meal, scheduling a meeting, or choosing a pair of shoes. The intensity, duration, and frequency of the worry may vary.

For some people, anxiety can lead to problems with concentration and difficulty performing everyday tasks. In addition to chronic worry, physical symptoms may also occur, such as tremors, muscle pain, sleep and digestive problems, dizziness, and irritability. Read more

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