Comments on: Self esteem: Linked to depression?

By: Lori

Lori — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 01:03:56 +0000

I have been treated for depression most of my life. I feel that I do a good job at work and I have been told that. The difficulty that I face is with the environment that I am in. It has been established that it is a negative area due to a work survey. I tend to have these people bring me down because my self esteem is not strong. This tends to increase my anxiety and depression. I was told that I would always be at risk because of my past experiences. The difficulty for me is in this environment to build my self esteem. I try to think positive and people that are negative bring me crashing down. I have gone to the supervisor about this and nothing gets done so I keep struggling in my work relationships. I am on medicine and have been for years. So I agree that low self esteems tends to be a difficult thing to attain and keeps me depressed.

By: Gabbie Gruesome

Gabbie Gruesome — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:07:58 +0000

WHen my parents got divorced I was sufforing from depression because of the things that were happening and I was put through alot of stuff and there was so many changes. I am still suffering from it now. I haven’t told anyone I was depressed but people can just tell. I don’t talk to anyone anymore. I quit sports I just couldn’t stand to be around people. My self esteem isn’t to high either. I think I will try out for winter sports and make new friends I think that would help my depression and self esteem.

By: Myth of the Addictive Personality — How to Have Great Self Confidence

Myth of the Addictive Personality — How to Have Great Self Confidence — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:31:40 +0000

[...] that everyone with an addiction problem has low self esteem. But having discussed the link between depression and low self esteem, I think the link with addictions is just as [...]

By: David

David — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:41:10 +0000

Maria – Negative thinking is certainly underpins both low self esteem and depression. CBT is currently becoming more readily available through our National Health Service in the UK. I have never heard of “Byron Katie’s The Work” and fairly sure she has no presence this side of the Atlantic.
Seamus – thanks and welcome!
Donna – On my “things to do list” is to look into the reasons for the disparity in depression figures between developed and non developed worlds. I’m sure work will figure, but don’t forget our working conditions are positively luxurious compared with some.

By: Donna

Donna — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 02:07:31 +0000

In my experience I definitely think there is a link, but it can go both ways… low self-esteem can make it more likely that a person will experience depression, but depression can also cause or lower self-esteem.

I knew depression was quite widespread, but I was shocked at the statistics from the WHO. Wow. I wonder, in the ‘developed world’ how much is the high incidence depression caused by work? I know for myself not having a good work-life balance can be a contributor. But, even when I’ve worked at companies who go on about how they are into work/life balance and support their employees – the reality is they didn’t. In my experience, they didn’t even try. But they did expect us to sacrifice our time (and time = life) for them.

By: Seamus Anthony

Seamus Anthony — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:18:46 +0000

Hi David, Great article (I have suffered from a bit of depression in the past, but not so much anymore). I have just subscribed so looking forward to reading more. Thanks for digging my PicktheBrain article about setting fire to your career plan. If you want you can check out more of my kooky ramblings over at Rebel Zen.

By: Maria | Never the Same River Twice

Maria | Never the Same River Twice — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:08:26 +0000

This is a thought provoking post. In my experience low self esteem and depression both have negative thinking as part of their causation. That is one possible connection. Therapies like CBT can help with the negative thoughts, as can something like Byron Katie’s The Work.

By: David

David — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:14:16 +0000

High self esteem cannot prevent depression as such, but low self esteem can be both a trigger or a symptom, Both depression and anti depressants are huge topics, which this post does scant justice to, so i welcome your comments. David

By: Miss Gisele B.

Miss Gisele B. — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:20:46 +0000

David,

I’ve never thought of linking low self esteem and depression, but it’s true that the people I know who have low self esteem usually have tendencies of being depressed and have needs for anti-depressant.

This is an excellent post!

Miss Gisele B.

By: Evan

Evan — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:37:26 +0000

My partner has suffered with depression for many years. She did use anti-depressants for a few years. The withdrawl symptoms should not be underestimated. Neither the difficulty of finding the right anti-depressant – it takes a couple of weeks to find if each one is working, if it doesn’t then there is time needed for it to clear out of the system, before the next one is tried (rinse and repeat).

So if you are open to drugs don’t wait until the depression is severe. Talk to your doctor/shrink early – it can take a long time to find the right drug.

If you want to do without drugs try getting angry. In my experience depression (unless it is a pure chemical imbalance) is anger turned inwards. Turn it outwards – in a safe and supportive environment.

The relation to self-esteem. In my experience depression affects (negatively) self-esteem but self-esteem doesn’t guard against depression.

There is a blog by someone who has battled depression life-long called Storied Mind. Well worth reading.