Abuse, avoiding challenges, facing criticism, focusing on negatives, and looking down on oneself can hinder self-esteem. Abuse can be physical, sexual, or emotional and makes self-esteem drop. Avoiding challenges stems from a fear of the unknown. Constant criticism makes one feel like a loser and prevents trying new things. Looking down on oneself means not believing in or appreciating one's strengths and focusing on perceived flaws instead.

1. FACTORSTHATHINDERSEL-ESTEEM
Abuse
Avoiding challenges or change
Facing constant criticism
Looking down upon yourself
Focusing on your negative characteristics

2.  This refers to being treated in a way that is cruel
or inhumane.
 Abuse can be:
 either physical involving assault, or domestic
violence.
 sexual such as in child defilement, incest or,
rape.
 Emotional, that is, when demeaning comments
are made against you or when you are always
talked down upon. If you suffer from any one of
these, your self esteem will drop or become low.

3.  this is when you are comfortable with what
you are doing at the moment even if it does
not bear any fruit.
 You may be having a lot of opportunities but
you turn them down because you have the
fear of the unknown.
 This is when you always ask yourself the
‘what if’ questions.

4.  this is when people never appreciate
you or what you try to do no matter
how hard you try.
 This makes you to feel like a real
looser. It is very destructive to our self
image. This can make us to fear trying
new things.

5.  this is a situation whereby you do not believe
in yourself.
 You just believe you are worthless.
 In this sense you start to compare yourself to
others, you want to be like them.
 You are stripped off of
self love and self-appreciation.
 You do not have a sense of belonging.

6.  this is when you ignore your strengths
and pay more attention to your vices.
 For example, you may be a good
singer but fail to work on improving
your singing skills but then concentrate
on the fact that you think you are not
good looking.