Chronic Low Self-Esteem
A persistently negative evaluation of one's own worth, capabilities, or value as a person. A transdiagnostic symptom present across depression, anxiety, trauma, and personality disorders, and a significant driver of suffering and avoidance.
Quick answer
Chronic low self-esteem (ICD-10: R45.8; ICD-11: MB25) is a transdiagnostic maintenance factor in depression, anxiety, and trauma presentations. CBT and schema therapy have the strongest evidence. Self-compassion training is an emerging evidence-based adjunct. Requires differentiation from episodic confidence loss.
Recognition
Do any of these feel familiar?
Persistent sense of inadequacy or inferiority
Harsh inner critic and self-blame
Difficulty asserting needs or setting boundaries
Avoidance of opportunities due to fear of failure or judgment
Seeking external validation to temporarily relieve internal sense of worthlessness
What is Chronic Low Self-Esteem?
A persistently negative evaluation of one's own worth, capabilities, or value as a person. A transdiagnostic symptom present across depression, anxiety, trauma, and personality disorders, and a significant driver of suffering and avoidance.
Approaches Commonly Explored
Commonly explored for conditions related to Chronic Low Self-Esteem, grouped by mechanism — select your subtype above to highlight the most relevant path.
How to use these approaches
Most people begin with Stabilise approaches, then progress toward Resolve and Sustain.
Cognitive patterns, emotional processing, and stress response.
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