Insecurity
What is emotional security?
Emotional security is feeling safe, confident and free from apprehension. It is a basic human need to feel emotionally secure, and free from fear and anxiety. Emotional security is the acceptance of self and the world. It determines our personality and behavior and how we get our needs met. Safety needs are personal security, financial security, and health and well-being and are more fundamental than physical needs! Subjective well-being is the soil in which happiness can flourish.
What is insecurity?
Insecurity is uncertainty or anxiety about oneself and the world; lack of confidence; and feelings of inadequacy. Insecurity creates anxiety about your goals, feelings, and relationships and engenders self-doubt about your ability to deal with the unexpected challenges of daily life.
Trust is a prerequisite for successful social relationships. It is necessary to experience a sense of belonging and building relationships with others. First impressions of trustworthiness have important consequence. It influences our social interactions.
Insecurity is directly tied to the inability to trust others. Insecurity creates a perception that the world is threatening which leads to difficulty in relationships. The insecure anticipate emotional hurt or sadness. Fears block positive emotions. Feeling emotionally unsafe is a major trigger in feeling hopeless, helpless, isolated, or many other forms of discomfort.
We all experience insecurity at times, but some people suffer insecurity based on their past experiences as a child and as an adult, based in past traumas such as divorce, recent failures such as bankruptcy and rejections, loss of a loved one, loneliness, social anxiety, negative self-beliefs, perfectionism and/or a critical parent or partner. However, insecurity can be internal and have no external cause.
Some insecurity is normal when encountering new and unexpected or previously unexperienced events, but most of us learn to navigate our way through these challenges relying on your good sense, routines and resources.
Common types of insecurity
- Relationship insecurity
- Job insecurity
- Body image insecurity
- Social anxiety
What are the symptoms of insecurity?
- Poor self-esteem
- Negative self-image
- Perfectionism – the inability to be satisfied and the need to control
- Self – isolation
- Emotional dependence
- Avoidance of personal relationships and social situations
- Fear of not measuring up
- Fear of criticism
- Fear of being judged
- Feeling self-conscious
- Feeling unimportant
- Feeling rejected
- Feeling not good enough
- Pessimism
- Depression
- Anxiety
How to manage insecurity
A psychotherapist can help you sort out your emotions and feelings. Therapy can help you identify your strengths and develop strategies to improve your life. The health benefits of trust are well studied. Trust and happiness help us deal with short term shocks and individual experiences. They provide stability and are independent predictors of mortality.
Your consultation
Before beginning treatment one of our clinical psychologists will conduct a complimentary initial consultation with you. The goal of the initial consultation is to get a better understanding of you, your history with what brings you to therapy, and what your needs are in therapy. We feel the fit between client and psychologist is extremely important, and the consultation is a great start for you to get a feel for Healthymynds and if we are a fit for your needs. Our goal is to work with you in a safe and supportive environment where you can explore your thoughts and feelings and work toward flourishing.
Contact Healthymynds in Redondo Beach to schedule a complimentary consultation to learn more about addressing insecurity and turning it into security.
