Do you sometimes feel uncomfortable in your own skin or like you’re not good enough? If so, it may be because you’re insecure. Insecurity is a state of uncertainty or inadequacy and can make you doubt yourself. We know this feeling can be anything but fun, which is why we’re here to help—you’re not alone! Answer these questions to learn how insecure you may be and what you can do to boost your confidence.
Questions Overview
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What Is Insecurity?
In a nutshell, insecurity is an overwhelming sense of uncertainty about your worth, skills, or abilities. Insecurity can make you second-guess yourself and question your value as an individual. This doubt can cause feelings of anxiety, embarrassment, and depression.
Everyone experiences insecure feelings at least once in their life. You can feel insecure in a relationship, with your body image, at your job, in social settings, or with basic needs (such as food, housing, and health). So, what causes insecurity, and how can you overcome it?
Insecurity can be caused by:
- A lack of emotional support from friends and/or family.
- A lack of confidence.
- A recent failure or rejection.
- Social anxiety.
- Perfectionism.
Signs of insecurity include:
- Feelings of inadequacy.
- Low self-esteem.
- Feelings of uncertainty.
- Anxiety about relationships.
- Poor decision-making.
- Poor communication.
- A strong desire to be alone.
- Being overly critical about yourself.
To overcome insecurity, try:
- Acknowledging why and how you feel insecure.The first step to overcoming insecure feelings is to notice where they’re coming from. Pay attention to when you feel the most self-conscious, and ask yourself what might have triggered this feeling.
- Practicing self-love.To build confidence, you must learn to love yourself. Speak positive affirmations over yourself, or write down 3 things you like about yourself every day.
- Surrounding yourself with positive people.The people you hang out with can play a big part in how you view yourself. Make friends who lift you up rather than tear you down.
- Aiming for progress, not perfection.Nobody is perfect, and that’s okay! Rather than always trying to be perfect, focus on moving forward. If you mess up, don’t fret! Take the mistake as a learning opportunity instead of putting yourself down.
- Talking to a therapist.Believe it or not, chatting with a third party about how you’re feeling can make a huge difference. Plus, therapists can help you build confidence and provide personalized treatment.
Want to learn more?
For more information about insecurity, check out these resources:
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Any medically related content, whether User Content or otherwise found on the Service, is not intended to be medical advice or instructions for medical diagnosis or treatment, and no physician-patient or psychotherapist-patient relationship is, or is intended to be, created.
Reader Success Stories
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