Girls who struggle with low self-esteem will often
express it in one of three ways.
A person with low self-esteem will sometimes simply stop trying.
She will act as though she is at the mercy of everyone else, and
is often indecisive - waiting for someone else to make the
decisions for her. She may feel self-pity or indifference, and
use those things as excuses for not taking responsibility.
Some people try to cover up low self-esteem by acting as though
everything is perfect. "Couldn't be better!" This person is often
a high, or over-achiever, using success as her way of
maintaining, or proving, her sense of self-worth. This person is
often afraid of failure, and it's likely that she grew up in a
home where failure was seen as a reflection of self.
The third type of person tries to build walls as her defense
mechanism. She acts as though nothing bothers her. She tells
others (and herself) that people's opinions don't matter. She
will especially use this tactic with authority figures or people
who are considered "important". She's often angry, because she
feels like she's never "good enough". Her need to prove that
other people's opinions don't matter may lead to outright
rebellion - breaking the law, or blaming others for the
consequences of her actions and the way she feels about
herself.
