How do you gain back self confidence and self esteem that you've had gone downhill

[PriestTheyCalledHim]

from years of drug use/abuse? Besides doing daily positive affirmations?

 

[straightrazor]

Focusing on dieting/exercise and bettering oneself in general is a good place to start

 

[ad lib]

Focusing on dieting/exercise and bettering oneself in general is a good place to start

I agree.

Diet and exercise can be a huge boost to confidence, especially exercise. At least that's the case for me. I find the more I exercise the more confident I feel because of how good I know my body will be once I get the end result.

Do you have any hobbies or interests that you haven't been involved in lately that maybe you could get back into? Doing something that you're interested in/know you're good at may help to boost your confidence.

 

[Maya]

I would also like to add that other hobbies you are interested in can build your confidence back like enrolling in a kick boxing class etc. This way you can also meet new people that will be better to hang out with and encourage positivity instead of hanging out with the old friends who are still abusing drugs.

 

[neversickanymore]

I think the first step is to give up any guilt and shame we have associated with ourselves. There have been so many amazing people who struggle with what we do. So taking a good look at all these people was one of the ways I was able to give all that shit up for good.. as it doesn't do anything for us and drives use.

may be triggering as its in Drug Culture>> Who is your favorite drug addict(s) and/or user(s) of all time?


Another thing that was powerful for me was giving myself the credit I deserved.. I give myself credit for everything.. i even give myself credit for giving myself credit for giving myself credit. Every time we give ourselves credit we acknowledge a success. With this two nice things happen.. we receive a shot of dopamine and we acknowledge and build or self esteem.

Another import thing is to heal from all the psychological damage that the addiction and use have done. The steps of the fellowships are a real good way to do this. When we used drugs to deal with our emotions and problems we circumvented an important system. An emotion signifies a problem we are supposed to address.. when a non drug user addresses the problem successfully it goes away logged as solved. But with the use of drugs we circumvented the system and ended up filing tones of unsolved problem into the system as solved. So I feel its important to return to these problems and address them. One of the best ways of addressing old emotions and their problems is to identify them and tell them to someone else. The idea of confession has been around forever and is so powerful it has been attributed to God. This may be the case it may not be.. it may just be system that has developed through evolution where beings who shared their problems with their social group were more successful then those that didn't.. but it seems to be so powerful for so many people. Just by having th courage and to complete the steps can have a huge impact on a persons psychological health and self esteem.

Then I think just keeping moving forward and creating a good life will build self esteem over time as we see our successes and learn to love ourselves.

 

[lman_15]

Doing estimable acts = increased self esteem

 

[caseface99]

As mentioned, focus on making things better for yourself. I am still struggling with this a LOT, trust me. I have been sober almost 8 months and it's still a daily struggle but i have made progress. I am starting to get so many things back in my life and the only way to feel better about yourself is to accomplish things that you can be proud of.

 

[Mr.Scagnattie]

You have to force yourself to let the past be the past. You need to accept that you did what you did back then, and make a commitment to move forward and be a better person.

Then everything else will work itself out. It takes time to build back your confidence and self esteem, but being active and doing positive things is the only way. If you're just sitting around feeling sorry for yourself, thinking about the past, too much time on your hands, you're only going to get worse.

 

[caseface99]

One of the biggest things that has helped me with this recently is starting to make amends to the people I have wronged throughout my using.

After 6-7 months of sobriety I was starting to think about some of the shitty things I have done while trying to fall asleep. However Since I started working through the Amends I need to make a couple weeks ago I have not had this problem anymore. If I do think about something shitty I have done to someone, I can be ok with it because I'll know of done what I can to clear my side of the street and make things right.

I know shit you've done to other people isn't the only cause of low self esteem/confidence and whatnot, however it's probably a big contributing factor.

 

[herbavore]

There are many things about growing older that suck but one thing I will say for it is that self-acceptance comes easier. Self acceptance is different from self esteem. Self esteem comes from doing things we are proud of doing, getting positive reinforcement from others and from a sense of accomplishment in our efforts; self acceptance is making peace with who you are. It is that perfect mix of empathy and challenge that you would give your best friend--you forgive them their weaknesses and still try to help foster their strengths. Why is this so hard to do for ourselves, from ourselves?

Anyway priest, I hope that I can at least be the bearer of some good news--it does get easier down the road.

 

[bukweat]

Get out of yourself

 

[deaf eye]

if the little voice in your head is saying its lame, do it anyway

 

[Mysterie]

help others in the areas you can relate to the most, because then your experiences will be beneficial to those around you and that your close to

which helps build your esteem

try taking cold showers for a week to build your determination and fling yourself into things that your little voice scares you out of trying, when its going to benefit you

 

[caseface99]

"All the suffering in the world comes from desire of happiness for ones self. All the happiness in the world comes from desire of happiness for others. "

-A Buddhist quote


The biggest thing that has helped grow my self esteem since getting clean is always extending a helping hand wherever possible.

 

[Factin]

Just like they said, exercise and dieting is a good way Or face a mirror and say things that you want to say. Example try saying that your so good at this and that things Also you can try to admire yourself with a mirror, and say that your good looking