How Can You Tell if Someone has Low Self Esteem?

How can you tell if someone has low self esteem? Are there some tell-tale signs you can easily recognize? Actually, there are. People with low self-esteem, or lacking in self confidence, will usually exhibit certain verbal and non-verbal behaviour which points to their insecurity—clues you can learn to recognize and use to try to help your friend or loved one.

How Can You Tell if Someone Has Low Self-Esteem: The Signs

Some of the signs of low self-esteem are relatively easy to spot while others may be a bit more obscure. However, the following signs are usually a fairly good indication:

• Poor body language. People who are always slouching or walking with their head down may be trying to tell you something. The inability or refusal to walk uprightly or sit up straight may be an indication of low self esteem.

• Negativity. People who always see the negative in every situation may be suffering from low self-esteem. Hopeless language, such as “I can’t” or “it figures” are usually pretty good signs of this lack of confidence.

• No eye contact. Confident people have no problem looking people in the eye when they are speaking, but the opposite is usually the norm for those with low self-esteem. The inability to look people in the eye may be a sign that the person feels inferior or unworthy.

• Defensiveness. People who are defensive, touchy or who always take even light-hearted conversations to heart may be exhibiting a complete lack of confidence. If they are always trying to defend themselves, even when the situation does not call for it, that is typically a sign of low self-esteem.

• Depression. Depression is more than just feeling low or down; it is the loss of enjoyment in things that should normally be enjoyed. Experts believe that extended bouts of pervasive depression can be a precursor to low self esteem.

So how can you tell if someone has low self-esteem? The tell-tale signs mentioned above are usually a good starting point for helping your friend or loved one. Look for both verbal and nonverbal clues of apathy, frustration, depression and defensiveness, and offer your full support. Just knowing that someone cares can be a huge help.