How to get over inferiority complex?

Do you often compare yourself to others and feel worthless? You may have an inferiority complex. We all experience or face some bouts of inferiority complex at some point in our lives. We create self-doubt and anxiety about our own worth and value. This is an unpleasant feeling in which people feel down about themselves. Now the question must be coming to your mind – “Why do I feel inferior?” In this article we will try to understand the root cause behind such insecurities and how to combat your inferiority complex.

What is an inferiority complex?

An inferiority complex is an unrealistic feeling of general inadequacy, which is not based on rational judgement. It consists of feelings of not measuring up to standards, a doubt and uncertainty about oneself, and a lack of self-esteem. If often create a feeling that you are less attractive, important, competent, intelligent, or skillful than other people.

It’s a reality that every person is inferior to some one in some way. Being inferior to someone in a specific aspect is okay. It does not affect your feeling of self worth. But when a person start feeling inferior in general, it starts create problem in person’s day to day life.

Signs of Inferiority Complex

Here are the signs and symptoms that you may have an inferiority complex

• Lack of self-confidence and self-esteem
• Feeling insecure, incomplete, or unworthy
• Constant perfectionism
• Always comparing self with other unfavorably
• Social withdrawal
• Feeling hopeless and helpless
• High sensitivity to criticism and other people opinion
• Desperate attention seeking
• Perceiving other persons as threat
• Always judging other people and finding faults in them
• Frequent feeling of shame, guilt and jealousy
• Avoidant behavior
• Procrastination

Causes of inferiority complex

An inferiority complex arises from imagined or conditioned feelings of inferiority. Following are the causes or situations which create inferiority complex

Mental Health

People with mental health issues are more prone to inferiority complex. It has been found that people with pessimistic outlook and low self-esteem develop feelings of incompetence. People with a history of depression are more susceptible to developing an inferiority complex.

Upbringing

The surrounding environment during childhood play a critical role in developing an inferiority complex. A toxic and unpleasant surrounding environment for a child can be incredibly harmful to their personal development. Negative remarks by parents, a disapproving nature, and constant blame will only result in the child developing an inferiority complex. Instead, parents/guardians should try to always treat children with kindness and respect. If any of parents/guardians suffers from inferiority complex, their upbringing of kids pass on this to their children. The child start living with parent’s inferiority complex and that get deep down in his subconscious mind. Neglecting, overly critical or shaming parents child is supposed to be more prone to have inferiority complex.

Past experiences

Past experiences also play an important role in developing inferiority complex in individuals. An individual experiencing repeated situations in which he or she feels less than others develops conditioned feelings of inferiority. Such experiences often lead to destructive self-talk and if that negative self-image is experienced across many aspects of life, it results ultimately in the form of inferiority complex.

Social disadvantages and discrimination

In many persons inferiority complex get developed due to social disadvantage and discrimination. Such social discrimination may be on the grounds of nationality, family, gender, race, sexual orientation, physical defects, social status, economic status, caste, or religion.

How to deal with inferiority complex?

Inferiority complex treatment can be done through understanding the psychology of it’s development. Here are the ways to get rid of an inferiority complex. These tips and strategies will go long way to combat your inferiority complex.

Understanding the Cause

You need to understand the cause behind your inferiority complex feelings. Look back at your past and analyze difficult emotional memories. You will find one or more instances or periods in the past when you felt particularly traumatized by feeling inferior to something or someone. It may be a bad childhood experience or a combination of people putting you down over the years. You must look into layer by layer the reason behind your inferiority complex. It help you find the root cause of your problem and help you understand how to overcome it.

Respect your own decisions

You must respect your own decisions. In day to day life we take several decisions. Out of them some gives expected results, where as some ends up in disappointing results. Over a period of time, if you look back, you will find that our few decisions have been proved wrong. There will be lots of ifs and buts…like… If I would have done this… if would not took that decision etc.  You start comparing different options, situations etc. Never question your decision making capacity. That was the best decision at that point of time because you took that after analyzing all the factors i.e. options, possible results and available information. Now, there is no reason to feel inferior about that.

Self-compassion

Self compassion is the best form of self-help. Practice self-compassion and be kind to yourself. I know this will be one of the toughest thing for you to do. You are feeling worthless and having low self-esteem. How can you love yourself and come out of sufferings. Well, this will come slowly step by step. Start with self-care. Eat well, practice meditation, do some exercise and take care of your mental health. And above all, try to build up some self-confidence. Start one by one…. and slowly the things will start getting better.

Give Up

Well don’t get confused with the heading. All life coaches say “Never Give Up“. Here I am talking about giving up; if you have any toxic relationships which creating inferiority complex. If a you are in a relationship with a narcissist or gaslighter, you need to give up. Such people use gaslighting tactics and question you reality. They will make you feel inferior because that’s the only way they can have control over you.  You need to cut them, does not matter even if they are your family members or close friends. Surround yourself with the people who uplift you. Make friends who make you feel good. Spend quality time with the people who make you feel that you’re worthy. You will notice a big change in your life.

Expectations

Let go your unrealistic and unreasonable expectations. You don’t have control over each and every thing or person in this world. There are certain people and things out of your control. If you do not curtail your expectations you are bound to see failures. These failures ultimately create the sense of incapability and trigger feeling of inferiority.

Stop Comparing

In this world everyone is unique. All are born with different competencies and with different talents. Stop comparing yourself to everyone else. You can’t compare yourself to someone else, because everyone has different background-genetics, family, circumstances, opportunities. Everyone has own timing of life. It’s not necessary that you achieve the same which others have.  The comparison game never ends. Sometimes you might win, on the other hand sometimes you will lose, but ultimately it is always self-destructive.

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt

Conclusion

To Conclude, when feelings of inferiority starts affecting how you live your life, then you need to do something about it. Don’t live the rest of your life with the nasty inferiority feeling like that. You can become a better and happier person. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help. It might seem like a drastic step, but your mental health is essential.

Thank you for reading this. Over to you now, please let us know your views on inferiority complex. Share them in the comment section, they are much appreciated.

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