Self-Esteem and Substance Abuse

Self-Esteem & Peer Pressure: Depending on Drugs & Alcohol to Feel
Different

Self-esteem is one of the biggest factors in determining how successful we are in any given endeavor. How you judge yourself can determine whether you go out for a team or try anything else where you have to put yourself out there.

Low self-esteem can cause people not to realize their full potential and lead to other serious issues such as depression and substance abuse.

Low self-esteem might manifest as believing there is something wrong with oneself. Maybe the person feels as though anything they say is stupid. Or, perhaps the person feels as though they look bad, no matter what they do.

Addiction, of course, adds another layer to the issue when thrown into the mix. The disease of addiction can cause the user to look at themselves differently. It can cause several issues, including having difficulty with self-esteem.

Those that have had records of addiction, theft, or prostitution have lower self-esteem than those that do not engage in those activities. Low self-esteem has a direct link to those that use drugs.

Many people struggle with self-image and self-worth. When your sense of self-worth is diminished, feeling uncomfortable, especially in social situations, is common.

Some degree of social anxiety is normal; however, when you cannot feel comfortable around others most of the time, you may have a problem with self-esteem.

Some turn to substances to fix their social anxiety. Drugs and alcohol have long been the synthetic fix to such problems. Alcohol, commonly referred to as “liquid courage,” and drugs with their various nicknames, all aim to do the same thing — ease people’s anxiety and pain and make them feel like they belong.

The problem with using substances in place of self-worth is that the more you rely on substances, the less personal strength you have to handle stressful situations. Mood and mind-altering substances are highly addictive, both physically and mentally.

The more you use, the more you need, and soon enough, a vicious cycle is born.

How Addiction Affects the Self-Esteem

Addiction is a brain disorder defined as a compulsive want for the drug, despite the adverse consequences. You desire the drug so much that it doesn’t matter what you have to do to get it. Addiction is a disease.

Some reports have shown that those with increased self-esteem are less likely to use drugs. People with intact and high-self esteem usually avoid drugs and narcotics.

At the same time, a lack of self-esteem correlates to an increase in participating in criminal activity and drug abuse.

So, mental health professionals can make recommendations to help others with their self-esteem. There are various ways for society to help strengthen it through self-belief, faith in God, mental health counseling, support groups.

It would help if you learned to resist every feeling of inferiority and self-humiliation.

Understanding the role of Self-esteem and Addiction

Self-esteem is the word that describes your ability to have confidence in your worth or abilities. It means respecting yourself. Having poor self-esteem plays a critical role in developing different mental disorders and social problems.

These problems can be depression, Anorexia, Nervosa, bulimia, anxiety, violence, substance abuse, and high-risk behaviors. Having these conditions can lead to a lot of personal suffering.

Having self-respect plays a crucial role in the chance that someone may abuse drugs. But, drug abuse treatment centers work to improve the causes of low self-esteem.

Substance Abuse, Self Esteem, and Fitting In.

The pressure to fit in with the cool group also contributes to developing a substance abuse disorder down the road. It seems that the pressure to fit in with peers while in school is just part of life and growing up to some degree.

However, when fitting in means self-destructive behaviors, the situation can veer away from the common experience to the beginning of one’s downfall.

When you are drinking and having fun, everyone wants to be around you. You’re the life of the party. Your identity and social position intrinsically connect to your using.

So, naturally, you feel like you have to drink or use to be accepted. You accept this role and continuously drink or use it as you think you should. Drinking and using at parties on the weekend might spread to earlier times in the day and week.

Eventually, you might realize that you only feel like “yourself” when you are using. You might spend your sober hours waiting for the moment where you can drink or use to escape the feelings that haunt you.

You begin to depend on the substances more and more for freedom from self and reality. Most likely, this progression doesn’t alarm you as much as it should.

As you realize your dependence on the substance, your self-worth goes away. It no longer means anything good that you are using. You don’t see yourself as cool but instead as parasitic.

The only way you ever experienced relief from such low self-worth was the substance you abused.

You delve more into the party scene — more drugs, more sex, more abuse. You do what you need to get the next fix. And nothing, no task seems beneath you since you are just a slave to the substance.

Addiction and low-self esteem can put you at risk for exploitation by others who claim to care about you. You may not realize that people are taking advantage of you.

The Effects of Low-Self Esteem on Daily Life

When someone has low self-esteem, they are easily prone to the influence of others in their surroundings. People will low self-esteem may have difficulty overcoming negative thoughts or feelings.

The negative thoughts and feelings cause them to turn to outside experiences and activities to change their thoughts.

Drugs are a common activity that individuals seek out. They can change a negative state of mind or situation into a positive one. Low self-esteem and addiction can go together.

Having low self-esteem can lead to a lack of development or a tendency towards drug consumption.

It is important also to realize that just because someone has low self-esteem does not mean that they are an addict. Of course, there are many other factors that come into play.

Addiction risk factors include family history, behavioral disorders, and more. Low Self-esteem can be a symptom of a multitude of conditions.

Tips on Improving Self-Esteem for Those Who Struggle With Addiction

There are many things you can do to help improve low self-esteem. Whether you are suffering from an addiction or not, these methods can work.

Recognize The Things in Which You Excel

Recognize the things in which you excel. Every single person is good at something, whether big or small. It could be singing, cooking, doing puzzles, giving advice. Or simply just being a good friend.

We enjoy things more when we are good at them. If we enjoy it, then it boosts our mood. Find things or continue doing things that you do well. Doing these activities can also take your mind off of other things.

Keep yourself busy. Participate in activities that you are good at and enjoy doing; this can help improve low self-esteem.

Build Positive Relationships to Increase Your Self-Esteem

It is also very important to build more positive relationships. It would be best if you tried to stay away from relationships that influence your drug use. Going back to those people or groups can make it difficult to stay away from drugs.

It brings the temptation back. If certain relationships bring you down, do your best to spend less time with them. Or tell them how you feel about them and their actions.

Making attempts at creating relationships with people who are positive and appreciate you are important.