low self esteem, critical thinking and self sabotage, do I need therapy? has anyone improved these things by themselves?

[sliceofsoup]

As in the title. It has affected every part of my life since I was around 12. Major underachiever, string of toxic relationships and general crap self sabotaging decisions made in life. I feel stuck. I keep looking back and I feel totally unable to go forward.

Do I need to have counselling or can I beat this myself? Has anyone else overcome these things, even in little ways?

Bump.

If you want to start looking at this without a therapist, you could look at Overcoming Low Self-Esteem by Melanie Fennell. It's one of the 'books on prescription' series, meaning that it is one of the self-help books recommended and used by therapists.

You might find some useful key ideas in there to start with, but you could also ask for a referral for CBT, then you could have a therapist work through it with you and make it more individual to your situation.

Thank you. I will havd a look. I can't afford to go private and I am not sure that any of my problems are serious enough to warrant the GP referring me. I mean, it affects me in many ways but I dont self harm, I'm not depressed (right now, I have been recently and my GP was useless) and I'm not engaging in any risky behaviours.

Not that that is the criteria for referral, just me trying to see that things could be worse (positive thinking is so tiring, but trying my best at it.)

So tackling it myself seems like the best option.

if you want self-help stuff, here is a link to a set of work books that you can work through at your own pace if you wish www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/infopax.cfm?Info_ID=47

Good luck and I hope there is something helpful for you in there.