Advancing to the Senior Years with Boosted Self-esteem

In a world that focuses so much on youth and appearance, aging can seem like a disaster. As you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror, you may find yourself focusing on the physical changes you see. Aging can bring with it weakening knees, blurring vision, graying hair, etc. It may feel like your body is betraying you, however, there can be a lot of wonderful things that come along with aging as well. Though these positive aspects can be difficult to see at times, they are there.

Aging brings difficult life changing events that may feel more like losses than gains: a spouse becomes ill or passes away, children grow up and move out, finances change, and health challenges may restrict your functioning and/or independence.

Retirement can bring about a lot of different emotions. You may look forward to the independence and opportunity to do the things you want to do. You may also find yourself missing your career. All of the changes and challenges that come along with aging can impact your self-esteem.

The Course of Self-esteem

Aging is an unavoidable part of human development and a natural process of life. It brings about physiological, emotional and social changes to be gradually experienced by everyone. Some of these changes can be welcomed while some may result in intense feelings and even symptoms of depression and anxiety. Self-esteem can also be impacted.

Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself. It plays a role in how you view your own ability to think, a conviction in your own right for success, happiness and value. This also plays a role in your ability to express your needs and desires. It is the belief and images you hold about yourself, equating to how much you love and accept yourself. Self-esteem is related to a higher quality of life, greater success, and lower levels of emotional health concerns. Having a positive self-image can create a sense of worthiness. If you experience a decrease in self-esteem, you may also notice decreased self-worth.

For some, self-worth can increase with age, but self-esteem can take a sharp decline among older adults around the time of retirement. Several theories support the drop. In midlife, people often enjoy their status in their family, at work and in relationships, which might help increase self-esteem. In contrast, seniors do not only confront the pain of physical changes, but also experience changes in status and perceived control. This can impact self-esteem.

The changes you face as you age can be very difficult. You may start to feel less useful, especially if you begin feeling less independent. Simple things that used to be so easy to do may become more difficult, like walking or remembering things. Loss is always painful, whether it is about losing a loved one, mobility, youth, health or status. In all these cases, it is no wonder why self-esteem can decrease.

Negative Effects of Low Self-esteem Later in Life

While low self-esteem is not considered to be an emotional health condition, it can be a symptom. There is a clear link between self-esteem and mental health. Research links low self-esteem to mental health concerns and poor quality of life. Low self-esteem and low self-worth can often lead to the following:

  • Poor Relationships – As humans we have an innate desire to be social and develop relationships with others. When we experience low self-esteem we are more likely to isolate and disconnect from others. This can result in feeling alone and further impact the way we view ourselves.
  • Depression and anxiety – Low self-esteem works in a vicious cycle and it is considered a risk factor for other emotional health conditions. In particular, depression and anxiety, which are both common among seniors.
  • Addiction – Older adults with low self-esteem may use substances such as drugs and alcohol to help alleviate, mask or numb negative self-talk. This method of escapism can develop into full-blown addiction in the course of time and have detrimental effects on both physical and mental health.
  • Self-Harm – Low self-esteem can cause multiple behavioral changes, including self-harming tendencies.

The effects of low self-esteem can be devastating at any stage of life, though even more so during your golden years. The unending cycle of negative feelings can take a toll on both your physical and emotional well-being. Self-esteem does not have to fade away later in life.

Symptoms of Low Self-Esteem

Symptoms of low self-esteem may include:

  • Hypercritical of self
  • Minimizing or ignoring positive attributes
  • Self-judgment, thinking that you are “worse” than everyone else
  • Sadness
  • Negative self-talk
  • Poor personal hygiene
  • Isolation
  • Loss of interest in activities

If any of the above symptoms sound familiar, counseling could help.

Boosting Self-esteem

Aging can impact how you feel and value yourself. Changes in appearance, health, roles, activities, or a living situation as you age may affect the level of your self-esteem. It can be difficult to feel good about yourself when you are questioning where you belong or your status. All this can affect your self-esteem.

If you are feeling that your self-esteem has been impacted by aging, you’re not alone. Many experience these types of feelings, though you don’t have to continue to feel this way. Practicing self-compassion can be complicated but it is necessary when you are wanting to view yourself in a more positive light. Improving your self-talk can be difficult to do on your own. Therapy can help.

Time is too important to be wasted. It is never too late to take steps to improve your self-perception. Finding a therapist you can trust can make a huge difference. Carolina Counseling Services – Fuquay-Varina, NC contracts with therapists who understand, counselors who can help you to improve your self-esteem and maybe even help you engage in more positive self-talk. It’s time to start enjoying your golden years. Call today to schedule your first appointment.

Related Articles: