Low self-esteem

Tasnim, twenty-seven, is an analyst at a consulting firm in Gulshan and the first in her family to study abroad. Her manager calls her work excellent. She hears only the one comment that was not. She doomscrolls classmates’ LinkedIn posts at night and feels like the only one who is faking it. “Everyone’s in their main character era,” she tells her sister. “I’m just an extra.”

An illustration drawn from common experience. The person is invented; the pattern is not.

Understanding low self-esteem

Low self-esteem is a deep, lasting sense of not being good enough. It often starts early, through criticism, comparison, bullying or neglect, and is kept going by a harsh inner voice that discounts every success and magnifies every flaw. It is not a diagnosis in itself, but it is linked to anxiety, depression, social anxiety and unhealthy relationships, and constant comparison on social media makes it louder.

Signs worth noticing

• Dismissing praise and remembering every criticism
• Comparing yourself constantly and always coming out worse
• Avoiding opportunities for fear of failing
• Staying in situations or relationships that make you feel small

How care helps

Therapy helps people notice and question the inner critic, trace where it came from, and build a fairer, steadier view of themselves through small, real experiences. Any underlying anxiety or depression is assessed and treated.

What getting better can look like

Tasnim might start by accepting a compliment without arguing, then apply for the promotion and mute the accounts that make her feel like an extra.

Common questions about low self-esteem

Is low self-esteem a mental illness?

Low self-esteem is not a diagnosis in itself. It is a lasting sense of not being good enough, often starting early through criticism, comparison, bullying or neglect. It is linked to anxiety, depression and social anxiety, so it is worth looking at if it is holding you back or bringing you down.

Can therapy change how you see yourself?

Therapy helps people notice and question the inner critic, understand where it came from, and build a fairer, steadier view of themselves through small, real experiences. Change usually comes step by step. Any anxiety or depression underneath is assessed and treated too.

When to see a psychiatrist

If a harsh view of yourself is holding you back or bringing you down, it is worth working on. It can change.

Care here is personal: built around your history, your health and what you want to change, and reviewed with you as it goes.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.