Most of us get those days when our self-esteem is a little low. We feel overwhelmed by chaos or we keep on procrastinating even when we know what needs to be done in order to reach our goals. However, if this is you most of the time, you may be self-sabotaging to the point where different areas of your life start to suffer.
Take this quick quiz to determine whether you are showing signs of self-sabotage.
1. Do you often put yourself down over little things and struggle to let your mistakes go?
a. No, I don’t have this issue
b. Sometimes, but I am usually able to stay rational about it
c. Yes, I often struggle with this
2. Are those close to you often concerned about your perfectionism?
a. Not really, no
b. From time to time
c. Yes, they often speak to me about this
3. Do you have frequent feelings that you don’t measure up?
a. No, I don’t usually struggle with these kinds of emotions
b. Yes, I’ve felt this way before
a. I struggle with these kinds of feelings regularly, and it is affecting my self-esteem
4. Are you overly pessimistic to the point where it is having an impact on your relationships, health, finances or career?
a. No, I am usually able to see things in a rational light
b. I sometimes struggle with being pessimistic
c. Yes, this is something that I struggle with
5. Do feelings of overwhelm often cause you to procrastinate about work, important arrangements, relationships, finances or matters relating to your health?
a. No, not really
b. Yes, from time to time
c. Yes, this happens to me quite often
6. Do you allow chaos to take over when it comes to your work, relationships or health?
a. No, I am usually well able to sort these areas of my life
b. From time to time, yes
c. Yes, I am aware that this is a problem
7. Do you struggle with feeling like a phoney, or avoid reaching out to others because you fear rejection?
a. No, not really
b. Yes, from time to time
c. Yes, this happens to me quite often
8. Do you often ignore negative emotions, hold a grudge, focus on your partner’s flaws or constantly criticize your partner?
a. No, not really
b. Yes, from time to time
c. Yes, I do this quite often
9. Do you experience symptoms of burnout, such as indigestion, headaches, or stomachaches?
a. No, not really
b. Yes, from time to time
c. Yes, this happens to me quite often
If you scored mostly A’s:
You don’t seem to be struggling with self-sabotaging and it looks like you’re managing well.
That’s great news! Maintain healthy habits and focus on the activities that bring you closer to your health, financial, career and personal goals.
If you scored mostly B’s:
There are a few warning signs that you may be struggling with self-sabotage. Start by identifying the triggers that cause you to self-sabotage and work on self-regulation. A few steps you can take to reduce the impact of your symptoms include journaling about your experiences. This improves your self-awareness and if you need help, it can support a physician in identifying the triggers and what can be done about them. It’s important to practise healthy stress management. Make time every day to be still, practise wholesome thoughts and do some breathing exercises. If it doesn’t get better, don’t waste time; prioritise seeing someone who can help you.
If you scored mostly C’s:
Like many others, you seem to be having a hard time with your self-sabotage, and under these conditions, it’s time to take control of the situation. Speak to a therapist or open up to someone you trust. The sooner you address the issue, the better the prognosis. This isn’t the time to try to deal with the issues on your own.
You and your immediate family have access to the ICAS EWP which provides an omnichannel point of access.
Written by LifeAssist
