Lets talk about self doubt

Self doubt is a term with which we all are somewhat familiar; the basic meaning of the term would be having doubts regarding your own abilities or questioning your own worth. 

How it all starts? 

It may be due to insecurity in relationships may it be one's friends, family or partner. We all know how important it is to maintain healthy relationships and not the toxic ones. However, this may not be the only reason. I personally think that at a very young age, children who are criticized to a great extent can also develop the feeling of self doubt, the fear of not being good enough. When I went through self doubt I was around 14 years old, the reason being I was bullied and getting too much criticism, the friends I made were constantly leaving and that contributed to me thinking I might not be able to maintain friendships or simply doubting something was wrong with me. 

Can self doubt lead to any kind of mental illness?

I will start by saying that occasionally feeling like this when a task is new or something you find difficult can be normal. However, if this feeling of self doubt is constant, it may be associated with a range of mental illnesses.  Self doubt can also lead to procrastination, lack of motivation, anxiety, depression, low self esteem, and difficulty in decision making. 

Imposter syndrome is when someone feels that they are not as good or competent as others think they are, engage in extreme criticism of themselves, and feeling anxious due to the fear of others finding out that they aren't as successful as they appear to be. 

What to do about it? 

Spending time with people who are supportive and positive. Also, knowing that your past failures are not something to focus on and living in the present is. Stop asking for validation and start practicing self compassion can help as well. 

Seeking therapy as soon as possible if required.

Deeksha Chopra