Low Self-esteem

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WTF is with me? I think so lowly of myself, like I'm worthless. I obviously have a very low self-esteem. How can I feel better about myself?

try talking to the people that care about you and ask them for an opinion. try to look for the good stuff about you, (there is good stuff) if u think a negative thought, replace it with 3 postive ones.
there is nothing wrong with you

remember that You are Worthwhile, a child of this world that has as much of a right to be here as any other.

It is not unusual to have low self-esteem when you're 16. Everyone that age does, even the most outwardly confident ones. I had the exact same problem and I decided I was gonna do something about it, so I cut class for three days straight and really spent some time thinking about why I felt so down about myself and what I could do to try to fix the things I didn't like. The other thing I did that really helped was I wrote a list of things that I felt I was better at than most people and a list of things I struggled with an compared the two. I realized that my good traits (Knowledgeable, ethical, loyal, intelligent, hard-working) far outweighed my deficiencies (bad at meeting new people, small talk, poor handwriting). I decided that the items on the first list were a hell of a lot more important than the ones on the second list.

I still get kinda depressed every now and again , but never as bad as it was before. These things worked well for me at least.

Brilliant observation - very true.

Ashleigh, your low self esteem is normal but from what we've seen here, you're brilliant and well liked.

You need to convince the one person pushing your low self-esteem ... yourself.

That means, doing whatever you feel is necessary to become comfortable with who you are. Try some new hairstyles, clothes etc... Stick some of your drawings up on the walls in your room and realize how good they are.

Building self esteem starts with you.

Beserker, I recommend reading a book called "Feeling Good" by David Burns. I used to think books like this were complete crap, but this one really is different. It explains why you are feeling this way and gives you strategies to stop mentally beating yourself up about everything you do. I recommend you get a copy or check one out from the library. You will have to take it seriously though.

A little more about this book. A lot of psychology books talk about general principles and how great it would be if you would follow them. This book give you specific instructions on how to reach your goals. And you have to do the exercises in the book for it to work.

BTW, here's an example article written by the guy who wrote the book.. 10 types of cognitive distortions: http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/the-to ... n-thinkin/

Thanks guys.

Ashleigh, I have never met you and only know you via your posts, but I think you're likeable (mischievous in a good way) and I like your drawings. Your moodiness, depression are only natural given your lack of friends, being in a boring little town, your age, etc. In fact, given the difficulties socialising associated with AS, that you don't have the usual places to socialise like school, etc, you're doing well - which means you are strong.

Berserker is GREAT!

Yuo are feeling you could do more, so you will.

Deal with that which is in your control, your drawing, you have been getting better because you work at it.

Pick something you can improve, do it, then something else, what does not matter, just continued improvment.

Sometimes I feel down, but looking back, I learned a lot in the last six months.

Keep planting, harvest will come.

If you're feeling really bad and can't pick yourself up it might be worth seeing a doctor.