[Jan 06, 97 - 17:16] Regina Finan of 1:2410/534 wrote to All:
RF> I have a question for you all.  Is it possible that low self-esteem can 
e
RF> a disorder of some type by itself?  Or is low self-esteem only 
ontributed
RF> to by environmental and/or other disorders?
I don't think low self-esteem is a medical condition, but rather a 
consequence of something else which could be either medical or environmental. 
 For that matter, I am convinced that personality is to some degree inborn 
rather than learned.
RF> I decided to look into the low-self esteem thing.  I don't know about my
RF> family background since they are all in Germany.  I only have my parents
RF> and sister here.  I have not seen any problems with them in that area
RF> at all.  But I do know that I have had it all of my life (as far back as
RF> I can remember).  Since I now know I am ADD I wonder if because I knew
RF> I was different I developed it right off the bat or if there is any
RF> genetic cause for it.  It seems that it is built into my family as well.
AD(H)D leads naturally to behavior which is considered immature, thoughtless, 
antisocial, annoying, etc.  Being immature, thoughtless, antisocial, and 
annoying is unpleasant if one is aware of it, and if a person cannot control 
their behavior despite constant effort can be extremely disheartening.  Und 
such circumstances, it would be remarkable if a person did not have poor 
self-esteem.
RF> This has been since my kids could crawl.  Fears of all types such as 
RF> walking
RF> and talking and moving on to new things.  I haven't done anything that I
RF> can recall to bring this about in them.  Always praising and telling them
RF> they could do anything, as well as showing them.  Of course, the two boys
RF> are ADD/ADHD and the one girl doesn't seem to have this problem except 
when
RF> she is wrong.  She is a perfectionist and so am I. My husband somewhat 
s
AD(H)D tends to make some people rather rigid, rule-oriented, or reliant upon 
familiar structures.
Jerry Schwartz
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