Low self esteem and addiction

[j34]

I don't know about anybody else but boy do I have low self esteem at times, it is getting less as I work on myself but it sure is there,sometimes I need validation from others and have stayed in a sick relationship cause of it. Wondering if anybody else man or woman has the same issues?If so how long clean does it take to really change that part of it?A yr (hopefully) 2 yrs?

[cattalina]

I think you answered you own question for sure - the more you work on yourself the better it gets. It's hard to put a time limit on that cuz everyone moves at their own pace. I know for me self-esteem was hard, hard, hard to honestly work on. Eventually I realized I was holding on to things in the past way too much and doing so was preventing me from moving forward and building up self confidence. But self esteem is ever-evolving (I think) and there's always moments when we question ourselves. I think everyone needs some kind of validation from time to time, we are all human! Last thing - that sick relationship isn't gonna make things easier. I don't know the details of yours but having been in some very sick relationships.... sometimes moving on is for the best even tho it may be hard.  

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

Yes - - It was an issue for me ....  probably got a lot better about month 18 -  Keep working - You are a "work in progress" right now .....  just stick with the program..  And best of luck to you ........................ it will continue to get better ...

[broknbck]

are you kidding me? low self-steem?
you have done the impossible!
isn't that what you thought was impossible to do at one time?
you are on top of the world now! and don't you let anyone take that from you.
you did it! you are free!!!!
it is a trap that so many have fallen in. it could happen to anyone. and it does!
but you actually conquered it!!
you can face anything that the world can throw at you now and walk away from it.
if there is something that does not sit well with you. -change it. you are the master.

people can be as bad as an addiction to pills. they can control us and our lives--------
if we let them. you are a wise and courageous person. stop being afraid.
you can do anything you want. you already proved that to yourself.
now do it!!

[Beenerkitty]

im also struggling with the low self esteem. some days i feel better than others. (im only day 16 free of vics/percs). i try to put myself first-take care of me. i try not to be too hard on myself which is easier said than done. we are going thru a lot-kicking and acknowledging an addiction isnt easy. i dont know about your relationship but i found out my boyfriend was a pervert and cheating on me and that didnt help AT ALL with my self esteem. i agree with broknbak. i try to be strong. but its hard. we will be okay. acknowledge your feelings and try to move forward. good luck to you.
Bkitty

[worried878]

I know the feeling...sometimes i think i am more "insecure" than the low self esteem thing....when life has beat u down in the past it is hard to trust again..but i only know using doesnt solve anything..and only makes things worse...it draws u deeper in a whole and takes urself away from u..and strips any self esteem away that u may have had a chance of having cos u feel like a big fat loser underneath the artificial high the pills can give temporarily...u can only grow when u arent doing self destructive things to urself..so u r on ur way to feeling good about urself..and tat is all u can strive for....making urself a better person..life is so so short/wasting it on pills and screwing up the small amt of time God has given u on this earth is not the answer....I saw a movie last night  "Knowing" with N cage....made me wanna go home and call my family!  LOL....rtell em that I love them..seems we can get carried away and forget what is important in life so easily....but we can always step back and get on track..and struggle to stay there