Can self-esteem affect addiction?

An overview of how self-esteem influences the emergence and consolidation of addictions.

Perhaps you've ever wondered if, in fact, how you view yourself can somehow influence the likelihood of developing an addiction, whether to a substance or a behavior. That's what we're going to talk about in this article.

It is necessary to point out, although it is something we have already indicated in other previous articles, that in the development of a dependency there can be a lot of factors that influence this, and yes, self-esteem, the way we perceive ourselves, is one of those determining factors. So, let's look at how addictions interact, let's see how addictions and self-esteem interact..

• Related article, "Do you really know what self-esteem is?"

Why is self-esteem so important as a factor in the development of addictions?

We can say that self-esteem is an individual's perception of his or her own value. It has been described as an "emotional and cognitive evaluation of oneself as a human being". This element is fundamental, because it directly directly influences how people feel and perceive themselves, but it also influences how they act towards others..

It is easier for people who have an acceptable level of self-esteem to feel much better in all areas of their lives. It is also important to point out that the esteem that someone has of himself has a lot to do with his experiences and experiences, and that it is not the same to have gone through negative situations than not to have done so. This can cause guilt and other feelings that can make you perceive yourself in a way that is not real and that can end up hurting you..

The really negative thing about all this is that, if that bad self-esteem goes on too long, it can lead to the development of an addiction that makes you feel better.

Self-esteem is something fundamental

Not perceiving ourselves positively influences all areas of our life.. Everything we do, think and say is wrong, nothing can go right because we can't do anything right. We can't help it, it's how we feel, and therefore, we act accordingly.

To give an example, if a child lives in an environment in which he is always, no matter how hard he tries, told that he does not do anything right, he will listen to it for many years. That continuous bombardment will make that sooner or later he ends up internalizing the idea that it is true, that he does nothing right, and little by little and without himself wanting it, he adapts his behavior to that belief that, for him, is an absolute.

Addictions and self-esteem: what is the relationship?

Self-esteem can be achieved in the short term through external validationwhich can result in a lack of motivation and lower self-esteem. On the other hand, others believe that high self-esteem leads to independence and confidence which are necessary for positive mental health.

It is important to note that we cannot always control how our actions impact our sense of self.. The relationship between addictions or negative behaviors such as substance abuse and low self-esteem has been studied for a long time, and there are, as we have said before, many factors involved in this relationship, such as environment, genetics, past experiences, social environments.... It seems plausible that these factors may contribute to some people developing addictions.

Really, this is the whale that bites its own tail, a vicious circle in which one aspect feeds on the other: when you don't value yourself, you look for a way to alleviate all the discomfort it generates for you.. You do that with alcohol, drugs or any other addictive object, but, on the other hand, when you consume, you feel bad because you are doing it, and again, you are at the starting point.

How an addiction can affect the mind and body.

Addiction is a term that refers to any type of behavior or substance that an individual uses to satisfy a psychological or physiological need. Although it does not always lead to physical addiction, it can cause mental and emotional dependence on the addicted substance or behavior, which leads to long-term health consequences.

The brain is affected by addiction in many different ways, which can lead to health problems such as anxiety, depression and even suicide attempts.