Low Self-Esteem

LOW SELF-ESTEEM AND EATING DISORDERS

Some people are very aware that they have low self esteem and find this a daily challenge. For others, low self-esteem and body image concerns drives other issues such as perfectionism, depression, anxiety, difficulties in relationships, or an eating disorder. In these cases low self esteem may be ‘masked’ by the other difficulties. For a lot of people low self esteem will have been an issue for as long as they can remember, and for others it may have been triggered by a more recent event or series of events that have resulted in a reduction in their feelings of worth.
 

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Low Self-esteem EXPLAINED

Understanding Low Self-Esteem

Low self-esteem describes a persistent sense of not being “good enough”, feeling flawed, or believing that others see you more positively than you see yourself. Low self-esteem can drastically affect how you think, feel, behave and how you relate to others.  

Low self-esteem is often the result of long-standing emotional patterns, early experiences, perfectionism, or chronic self-criticism. It is also very common in people with eating disorders, where negative beliefs about the self can become intertwined with body image, food rules, and rituals around control.

Recovery becomes easier when these deeper emotional patterns are understood and supported.

what to look out for

Low self-esteem can shape eating disorder experiences in many ways, including:

  • Striving for rigid control over food or weight in order to feel more acceptable
  • Relying on eating disorder behaviours to manage distress or self-criticism
  • Feeling undeserving of nourishment, rest, or support
  • Comparing yourself to others or feeling “not good enough” physically or emotionally
  • Persistent feelings of failure or perfectionist standards specifically related to food or body image.
  • Fearing judgement from others, especially around body image
  • Avoidance of social eating due to fear of judgment

How Low Self-Esteem Can Affect Eating and Body Image

Low self-esteem rarely improves on its own, but with the right support, these patterns can change.

For related experiences, you may wish to explore our Perfectionism or Body Image Therapy pages.











how we support you

How Therapy Helps

Therapy can help you:

  • Understand the origins of your self-beliefs
  • Explore how these patterns influence eating, relationships, and emotions
  • Strengthen your sense of identity and self-worth
  • Challenge internal criticism and perfectionism
  • Develop self-compassion and emotional resilience
  • Build new ways of relating to yourself and others

Specialist Support at The London Centre

Our psychologists and therapists create a warm, collaborative space to explore low self-esteem safely. Treatment is always personalised, and we adapt approaches to ensure they feel supportive and manageable.

Clinical Therapeutic Adaptations for Low Self-Esteem

  • Developing a shared formulation to understand how beliefs formed and are maintained
  • Working at a steady, safe pace, especially where shame or self-criticism is high
  • Using compassion-focused approaches to soften harsh internal dialogue
  • Integrating Schema Therapy techniques for deeper, persistent core beliefs
  • Supporting emotional regulation, particularly around shame, guilt, or self-blame
  •  Introducing behavioural experiments to test unhelpful predictions in a supportive way
  • Reducing perfectionistic expectations that can impact therapy or recovery goals
  •  Supporting boundary-setting and assertiveness in relationships
  • Integrating body image work, where negative self-beliefs centre around appearance
  • Adapting tasks or homework to avoid overwhelm or self-punishment

For more information on therapeutic models, visit our Therapies Page.

Internal Links to Support Your Journey

You may find these pages helpful:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Trauma
  • Perfectionism
  • Body Image Therapy
  • Eating Disorder Recovery
  • Meet the Team
  • Contact / Appointment
Start your journey

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Towards Recovery

You deserve support, understanding, and care regardless of how long you have felt this way.
Book an appointment or speak with our team to begin.

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FAQs

FAQs About Binge Eating Treatment

Low self-esteem is not a diagnosis in itself, but it is a common emotional difficulty that significantly affects well-being and often coexists with eating disorders.

Yes. Many evidence-based therapies — such as Schema Therapy, CFT, CBT-E, and EMDR — effectively support self-worth and emotional well-being.

Not always. But for many people, negative beliefs about themselves become focused on appearance or eating behaviours.

Not necessarily, many people come to us with concerns about food, body image, or emotional well-being that don’t meet full diagnostic criteria. Because we are a specialist service, we mainly work with individuals whose low self-esteem is linked to eating, appearance, or related emotional challenges. If you’re unsure, we will always assess and guide you to the right support.