My partner and I are currently at rather different points in our careers. I have struggled for years to make a living out of freelancing in one area. I'm told I'm good at it but have never made it into a company that can offer me long term work, career development or support. My partner has a stable job in a multinational company and has just been offered and started training in my area, with a probable supported move into my area in the next couple of years. I am not dealing with this very well. Have you dealt with something similar, can you offer advice?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Apr 12, 2013 -
23 answers
I think I have a problem with self esteem. Objectively, I know that I am a physically attractive person. This has been confirmed by plenty of people throughout my life. I want more than anything to be told by my husband that I am beautiful in certain ways, but he can't or won't. I don't want to need something from him that he is unable to give. How can I either stop focusing on this, or learn how to validate myself without his input?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Feb 22, 2013 -
33 answers
I have some very poor ingrained behaviors that center around low self-esteem. Has anyone been successful in interrupting the chain from emotional reaction->saying stupid things->causing upset and hurt? If so, how?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Feb 8, 2013 -
8 answers
I started smoking weed in my early twenties, when I moved away from my hometown to a larger city in a different country. It's enough to say that I wasn't adapted well to being on my own; that, combined with the stress of a new job, a language barrier, and a few health problems that chipped away at my self-esteem, led me to take comfort in marijuana, on and off, for ten years. How do I forgive myself for the feelings of shame I have?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Feb 8, 2013 -
26 answers
I'll be blunt: I think I married a man who is too good for me. I'm having trouble dealing with my feelings of low self-worth and am tormented by insecurity. It's like the relationship version of Imposter Syndrome.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Jan 21, 2013 -
27 answers
I'm a 20 year old girl, and I've never been in a relationship. I feel weird about that. Where do I meet guys, apart from school, and how do I get more confidence?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Jan 17, 2013 -
19 answers
My self esteem is at an all time low. I have a huge case of impostor syndrome. I feel like I half ass everything, this has got to stop, it's making my life miserable.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Oct 12, 2012 -
27 answers
New leaf, same old city? Seeking advice—both practical and symbolic—on attempting a "fresh start" in a city I've lived in for 10 years.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Aug 23, 2012 -
9 answers
I have so many problems--I'm so far from being the person I want to be --that I don't even know where to start. If you were me, what would you do
this week to try to build up to some change?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Jul 23, 2012 -
45 answers
How do I deal with my (very insecure and overly sensitive) friend's tendency to take things said in passing as deep, personal criticisms? I used to be able to take it in stride but his recent prescription steroid treatments have ramped this trait up to stratospheric levels.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on May 4, 2012 -
8 answers
Is Ambition required for Success? Is it possible to be too well adjusted? What if you don't like what you're good at? I have been struggling with the concepts of ambition and achievement in regard to self-esteem and a sense of self-worth (warning: long, vague)
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Apr 29, 2012 -
15 answers
Does the person who did the breaking up typically look down on the person broken up with? How can I stop worrying about this issue?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Apr 23, 2012 -
23 answers
I'm a 24-year-old female with severe hair loss from Accutane, and it's only getting worse. How do I get past this, emotionally and practically?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Apr 16, 2012 -
18 answers
I have a lot of weight, eating, and body-image related issues that I am trying my best to overcome. It is going to be a long hard slog. I'm much better than I used to be, but one thing that makes me feel really bad is when colleagues and friends talk about dieting and working out.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Mar 26, 2012 -
30 answers
I was bullied out of one startup and joined another one that is struggling. How can I regain my professional confidence and move on with my life?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Mar 8, 2012 -
11 answers
I need help in moving on with my life after telling a lie. Many lies. That hurt someone very badly.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Jan 22, 2012 -
28 answers
My breasts are disproportionately large for my frame (34E/F, 5'2", upper-normal BMI). Because of this, my posture is terrible and my style has been decidedly cramped. Short of getting a breast reduction, how can I dress better, improve my posture, and keep my back from hurting all the time?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Dec 17, 2011 -
26 answers
Help me learn to not be such a doormat – and maybe get a tattoo to remind me not to be one.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Dec 8, 2011 -
12 answers
Why do I get so stressed out by the idea of confrontation, or of people being angry with me? I obsess about it for ages. How can I move past this constant need for people to approve of me?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Nov 30, 2011 -
21 answers
Body dysmorphic disorder with no insurance, self diagnose before investing in a shrink?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Nov 16, 2011 -
14 answers
Six months of unemployment has destroyed my self-esteem. Help me persist through the awfulness of writing cover letters and applying to jobs.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Nov 7, 2011 -
20 answers
Why do my relationships enter the LET'S MAKE THIS A SERIOUS COMMITMENT I WANT TO SPEND MY LIFE WITH YOU stage at an absurdly rapid pace? I used to think this was a kind of charming quirk, but my apparent inability to slow things down in order to determine the suitability of my partner has begun to concern me a bit. Special snowflake details inside.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Nov 7, 2011 -
31 answers
How do I deal with my impending success? Is there any way I can feel like less of a fraud, and can anyone who has been through this before give me tips to move the process along?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Oct 11, 2011 -
21 answers
He says it's poor memory and stupidity. I say it's low self esteem and insecurity. How to tell?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Aug 25, 2011 -
20 answers
I would like some help in dealing with my insecurities. How can I ask it from my loved ones without coming across as selfish or annoying?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Jul 6, 2011 -
21 answers
My mother and I have a difficult relationship. Looking for advice about how to get through a period during which my mother, my daughter, and I are spending a lot of time together. (And, yes, there's a lot more information inside.)
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Apr 11, 2011 -
18 answers
How to overcome feeling lost, aimless, confused, and alone? Thirty years into my life, I feel like I haven't accomplished anything, and I'm not sure how to go about achieving the things I want from where I am (physically, mentally, and emotionally) right now.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Feb 27, 2011 -
21 answers
I was confident and had loads of self esteem right up to the moment I actually started a real relationship. Now I'm a mess. How did I lose it all?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Feb 10, 2011 -
23 answers
Why am I such a pathetic sad-sack these days, and how can I shape up before I drive all my friends away?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Nov 14, 2009 -
15 answers
Omnibus Relationship Question: Getting married, and can't wait, but have numerous small issues I want to resolve.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Jan 13, 2009 -
20 answers
How do you feel good about yourself working in a career you're pretty mediocre at, but stuck in?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Jan 9, 2009 -
17 answers
Two part interrelated question: 1) How to improve the self esteem of a 16 year old girl 2) who can't act but would like to be a good actor
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Sep 2, 2008 -
24 answers
I'm looking for books on cd that help with low self-esteem and depression. I'm not religious or spiritual and not looking to become rich, just want some inspiration and practical techniques.
posted by anonymous
on Aug 4, 2008 -
6 answers
I'm losing my hair at 19 and I'm becoming an emotional wreck. A different person. How do I cope with this and become my old confident self again?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Jan 20, 2008 -
56 answers
How do I learn to overcome (better: eliminate) deep-seated insecurity in a relationship?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Apr 27, 2006 -
18 answers
If you met me for the first time, you'd probably think: 'He looks a bit odd'. Long, pointy nose, droopy eyes, distinct lack of chin, tall and gangly, often look sad or tired when I'm actually not. Usually, I am very
unself-conscious about it, but I am aware of it somewhere in the very back of my mind. When meeting someone for the first time (in a social or work context), I'll probably not think about it at all and just attempt the usual small talk (another weakness, but hey, that's another potential thread). But later, I might dwell on the fact that whoever this person was probably came away thinking the odd/ugly thing. I still have a healthy circle of friends and there's no long-term effect. But is there anything I can do to lessen the short-term odd-factor - dress better? Sparkle with wit and intelligence? Tell jokes? Not bothered about this romance-wise (married), just social- or work-wise. Male, by the way.
posted by anonymous
on Dec 7, 2004 -
32 answers
