Children are our future

4 Reasons for Low Self-Esteem in Children

How Hypnotherapy Can Help?

It’s Children’s Mental Health Week from 6th-12th February. As it coincides with self-esteem month, I want to focus on low self-esteem in children this month. What causes it and how can hypnotherapy help? Read on to find out.?

Does Your Child Have Low Self-Esteem?

A child with normal, healthy self-esteem will feel confident in themselves and their abilities, and they’ll be willing to give things a go. If your child has low self-esteem, it’s the complete opposite. Ask them to do something new or challenging and their first response will usually be ‘I can’t.’ They might be self-conscious about their appearance and negatively compare themselves with others.?

Low self-esteem is linked to anxiety and depression, and it can easily impact on relationships, work, and many other aspects of life. It can stop them from reaching their full potential.?

If low esteem is present, it can become much more of an issue in the pre-teen and teenage years.?

4 Reasons for Low Self-Esteem in Children

1.Comparing themselves to others?

Between the ages of 6 and 11, children begin to compare themselves to others. Unfavourable comparison causes low self-esteem. Children may start to believe they aren’t as clever/well off/attractive/popular as their peers. Social media has only added to the problem. A 2021 report highlighted the link between heavy social media use and low self-esteem. The worst impact appeared to be on girls aged 14-17 and their body image.?

2.Pressure to perform?

For younger children, any effort tends to be applauded. However, as children get older and exams and tests approach, there is pressure to perform. For many children, the weight of expectations and the fear of failure can lead to low self-esteem.?

3.Bullying?

Bullying is a major cause of low self-esteem in children. Children who have low self-esteem already have a negative self-perception which bullying will only make worse. Bullying can also ignite feelings of low self-esteem or even self-hatred, which can make children anxious, depressed, and withdrawn.?

4.Disapproval from others?

We all want approval. To children who are still developing emotionally, having the approval of someone who’s important to them is crucial. So if a parent or favourite teacher expresses disapproval or indicates in any way that they’re not good enough, this can cause low self-esteem.?

How Hypnotherapy Can Help Build Self-Esteem?

It can change that unhelpful inner dialogue

As humans, most of what we do is unconscious. If a child has negative thoughts and repeatedly tell themselves ‘I’m not good enough’ or ‘I’m not clever enough,’ the subconscious mind will make this part of their reality. The good news is that hypnosis acts on the subconscious. It can start replacing this negative inner dialogue with positive thoughts and beliefs about themselves and what they can achieve.?

Hypnosis can help them achieve them and reach their potential?

Low self-esteem can prevent children from reaching their potential. If you really believed that you weren’t good enough or you were a failure, what’s the point in even trying, right??

In hypnotherapy sessions, I can work with your child to identify their dreams and desires, and build their confidence.

Everyone has the right to be happy and to fulfil their potential in life, you just need to deal with whatever is in the subconscious mind that’s keeping you stuck.?

Does your child have low self-esteem? Do you? It can be upsetting to see anyone struggling. If you’d like to find out how hypnotherapy can help build confidence and self-esteem, get in touch.?

Lynne xx