Men: Self Esteem can be an issue.
Do you feel like you fit the male stereotype? Do you experience frequent negative thoughts saying you should? Men – is your self-esteem suffering?
Men, just like women, can be often plagued by self-doubt or insecurities. Many of the male clients I come across say to me that they are not good enough or are a failure. There are a number of reasons they give me. These range from not being successful enough at work, to not having a built up physique, to being too anxious or shy. Common statements I hear are “If I am not successful then I am a failure”, “If I am not an attractive male then I’m not good enough”, and “If I am too shy and awkward then I’m less of a man”.
It is quite common for men to seek out a psychologist to address their underlying negative beliefs about themselves or to address their self-doubt. In therapy, a psychologist can help you to adjust the rules or expectations you place on yourself to be good enough. A psychologist can help you in understanding what makes you good enough, regardless of how successful, confident or attractive you may be.
To start off challenging what you believe makes you a ‘good enough’ man, you may want to ask yourself the following questions:
– What do I think I need to be good enough?
– What made me believe I need this to be good enough?
– In what ways is this expectation unreasonable? Unrealistic? Unfair? Unhelpful?
– What are the negative consequences of having this expectation?
– What is an alternate healthy expectation?
– What can I do to put this into practice on a daily basis?
Many men find that having a trusted professional can help them in the journey to develop a more healthy view of themselves and a greater sense of confidence. Along with this, men see psychologists for a variety of other reasons, including anxiety in social situations, stress at work, and depression. Should you wish to see a psychologist, please give us a call on 1800 832 588
Michelle Dean
Psychologist
Michelle Dean (M Clin Psych, BA (Hons – First Class), brings her genuine care and compassion for people, along with her keen insight and analytical abilities to her work. Michelle is registered with Medicare and is also an approved practitioner in the NSW Workers Compensation System.
Through her various roles, she has developed a deep understanding of how these difficulties develop and impact on people in different life stages. Michelle has been able to assist her clients in developing skills to manage their anxiety and depression, along with enabling them to develop a healthy sense of self and greater self confidence. Michelle is a high calibre and compassionate professional and she is wonderful at being able to see the complexities of a clinical presentation and bring her therapeutic work down to a manageable and structured approach.