How low self-esteem affects Dating and Relationships
A therapist explains some of the ways that low-self esteem can show up in dating and relationships
Problems with low self-esteem can cause difficulties in many areas of life. Below, I aim to give an introduction to some of the ways low self-esteem can impact dating and relationships. I intend to go into further detail about some of these topics in future posts.
If someone struggles with low self-esteem, they may not think they deserve to be treated well. This could be a conscious, active, thought that they have, especially if they are also experiencing self-criticism. Or it may be a deeply-held belief that they are not consciously aware of but that is affecting their dating behaviour/choices nonetheless.
Connected to this, A person’s self-esteem also affects who they are attracted to in the first place. This is closely linked with their past experiences of relationships and their early childhood experiences. For example, If someone has never previously had a relationship ( this is particularly important for early relationships with parents/caregivers) where most of the time they were given enough attention, treated with kindness or as though they were valued and important, then they are not likely to be attracted to someone who could offer…
