To wonder if everyone secretly feels like this?

[Chessvarnish]

I can’t decide if it’s normal and how everyone feels or if it’s more than that.
I constantly in my head tell myself how useless I am. I never have any confidence in anything I do or any decision i make. I wouldn’t say I have any strengths or that I’m good at anything. If I had to describe myself I’d say ‘loser, annoying, hopeless.’
I’ve not got a glittering career. I’ve not got a huge amount of friends. I’m so horrified by myself that I can’t even look at my own belongings at the moment.
Does everyone feel like this sometimes?

Yep, every couple of months it surfaces. Going through it right now. I'm useless and not doing my lovely partner and gorgeous DCs justice at all. I'm a shit mum and barely get by at my job. There is nothing interesting about me, I don't have a career, never traveled, have nothing to talk about.
I'm aging terribly even though I am only young and hate looking at myself in the mirror. Never imagined this is where I would end up.

I cried twice today. If I was 100% guaranteed my DP found someone right for him and our DCs who would actually do them justice and do what I never could and if I wasn't such a coward I would get rid of myself.

It's common but it isn't how we should feel all the time (ie dont accept this is what being human is, it isnt) and it makes life so much less happy - if you can, do seek therapy or support. You deserve to not have these negative thoughts about yourself. I bet you are a great person.

Have you read about the Inner Critic? You also have an inner best friend in there somewhere. There is an amazing podcast of women sharing what their inner critic tells them and it's so powerful as most of what they share has passed through my mind at one point or another. We all have the same limiting thoughts, I guess the trick is to switch to listening to the inner best friend instead.

This is the podcast in case you are interested:

https://shows.cadence13.com/podcast/yoga-girl/episodes/c23f6dd0-d9a6-414f-af7e-c242fcb27f45

I used to. I had very low self esteem and lacked self confidence.

It took a lot of effort to believe I wasn't a bad person, and I had some counselling and stopped worrying about what I thought others though of me.

It is so worth it. Absolutely. Nothing externally has really changed but I now like myself, I like who I am and enjoy life.

It's not, no.

I know I have weaknesses, but I actually see myself as capable and competent. When I tell myself things it's more likely to be a pep talk than anything else ("Come on, Octomore, you know you can do this!")

I think therapy would be really helpful for you OP, if you can access some.

I don't and never have felt as down about myself as you describe or speak to myself in such negative terms, but I know lots of people sadly do. It isn't normal or healthy just because it's common though, and can be worked on through therapy. It is normal to be self aware and critical when we've screwed up, but ideally we then use this to improve something about our choices for next time and compassionately move on. This is what makes us human and not a psycho.

@ElftonWednesday - Your quote might just have changed the way I approach my life. Thank you for taking the time to share. OP hope you are able to take those words and apply.

I think everyone does sometimes.

I've had low self esteem in the past. I'm a huge fan of fake it until you make it! One thing that helped me was reminding myself that I had to be my own biggest fan. Absolutely no one else was going to be.

As PPs have said, I'm also aware of my own strengths and weaknesses. If I have to do something I know I'm poor at then I won't beat myself if it goes badly, but I'll cheer myself on if it goes well.

Proper cheesey but I love the last verse of The One and Only by Chesney Hawkes.

I can't wear this uniform without some compromises
Because you'll find out that we come
In different shapes and sizes
No one can be myself like I can
For this job I'm the best man
And while this may be true
You are the one and only you