What is Self-Hatred
Ok, Ladies…this is where it gets real.
I have a serious question for you, and you have to be brutally honest (with yourself). Â Are you ready?
Here it is…Could it be possible you hate yourself too much? WHAT!?
I know, not what you were expecting, I am sure, but humor me for a moment.Â
Look, self-hatred is more than simply not liking yourself. When you suffer from self-hatred, you’ll constantly put yourself down and feel like you aren’t good at anything.
Let’s take a closer look at this because self-hatred can have a major impact on your life. So, we need to identify this to understand how you can stop it in its tracks before this train derails.
Understanding Self-Hatred
Self-hatred is basically like having a little bully sitting inside your head. You will experience constant criticizing thoughts, pointing out your flaws and mistakes. Check out some common self-hatred thoughts you might experience, including:
- You’re a loser
- Why did you even try?Â
- You knew you would fail
- You aren’t good enough
- Why can’t you just be normal?
You’ll put yourself down and compare yourself to others frequently. Self-hatred tends to develop over time and is triggered by more than one event. Oh, and the comments can be a little more subtle than what’s above, yet they are still self-hating comments.Â
How can it impact your life?
Although self-doubt is healthy, self-hatred is not. If you struggle with self-hatred, it can have a devastating impact on your life. The feelings of self-hatred often worsen over time and can lead to destructive behaviors as you try to numb the negative self-talk.Â
Many people who suffer from self-hatred go on to develop destructive behaviors such as cutting themselves, developing eating disorders, or turning to drugs and alcohol. It can impact every aspect of your life, including your relationships, your career, and the friends you include in your life. You may also stop caring about the things you used to enjoy and avoid things that make you feel better.
The impact it can have on your life makes treating it quickly rather than ignoring it important. The question is, how can you eliminate self-hatred?
Ways to Eliminate Self-hatred from your life
There are many ways to eliminate self-hatred from your life. Learning how to tame your inner bully is a great first step. So, when you notice that inner voice telling you negative things about yourself, switch it around. Stop those negative thoughts in their tracks and turn them into positive ones.
So, if your inner bully says, “You aren’t worth anything,” switch it to “I may feel like I am not worthy, but I know that I am.” The more you counteract the negative with positive thoughts, the more positive your mind will become.
You can also make a list of all your strengths. If you struggle to come up with some, ask those closest to you. When you focus on your strengths, you won’t be too caught up in your weaknesses.
Finally, work on building up self-compassion. That is, treat yourself the exact same way you would treat a good friend. Would you beat them up for making a mistake? If not, why do it to yourself?
Overall, self-hatred can be a powerful thing to overcome since it builds up over time. However, the tips above can help you to start to quieten your inner bully and develop a little more self-compassion.Â
