Almost everyone experiences insecurity at some point, with some reports suggesting as many as 6 in 7 people worldwide feel insecure about various aspects of life, while polls show high numbers (like 39% in Australia for income insecurity) facing specific challenges, as insecurity is a universal human feeling rooted in uncertainty about self-worth, abilities, or future. It's a common trait, varying in intensity, often triggered by life changes, social comparison, or past experiences, affecting people across all demographics.
6 in 7 people worldwide plagued by feelings of insecurity, reports UN Development Programme.
Professional therapy can be very helpful in overcoming insecurity. A therapist can help you to identify the root causes, such as past traumas or negative experiences, and teach you to challenge negative beliefs and nurture a positive self-image.
The root of insecurity is when your identity is built on an insecure foundation.”
Lack of support: A lack of supportive relationships, encouragement, or positive feedback can undermine your confidence and contribute to insecurity. 5. Comparison: Constantly comparing yourself to others, especially in terms of achievements, appearance, or success, can fuel feelings of inferiority and insecurity.
One study reports that at age thirteen, 53% of American girls are “unhappy with their bodies.” This grows to 78% by the time girls reach seventeen.
Key Takeaways
Feelings of job insecurity are highest among the young. According to a survey of over 32,000 workers in 17 countries, half (50%) of Gen Z (those in the 18–24-year-old age bracket) say they don't feel secure in their job. This is double the proportion of over 55s who say the same (24%).
They are overly concerned about what others think of them. They never express a firm opinion. They suffer from a chronic inability to make decisions, even when the choices have little consequence. They frequently try to change the direction of projects and meetings.
Insecurity makes a person doubt themselves and feel unstable in their environment. Trauma, on the other hand, is a severe emotional response to a disturbing event.
Here are some of the most common reasons why people develop controlling behaviors. Insecurity: Deep-seated insecurities are a primary cause. When people feel they are not good enough, they may try to control others to feel more powerful and important.
People with deep-seated insecurities might talk excessively to assert themselves or prove their knowledge, fearing that silence may make them appear unimportant.
Accept yourself, completely, love yourself. And that's all you need. Embrace non-comparison. Comparison of yourself with how others look, what they're doing, where they're traveling, how much fun they're having … it's never a useful comparison, and it actively harms you.
Studies have shown that adolescent girls tend to have lower self-esteem and more negative assessments of their physical characteristics and intellectual abilities than boys have.
Insecure attachment often develops when a child's emotional needs aren't consistently met. Maybe their parents were dealing with their own mental health struggles or substance abuse issues. Or perhaps the child experienced neglect, abuse, or trauma.
Oversharing, you see, often stems from hidden insecurities. It's a cry for validation or attention, cloaked under the guise of an open and expressive online persona. And the intriguing part is that these insecurities aren't always obvious.
Some people feel very insecure about who they are and might lie in an effort to make themselves feel better or inflate their own sense of self-worth. Pathological lying may also be a defense mechanism to prevent ridicule or social exclusion. Lying under these circumstances is often quite transparent.
They might reply passive aggressively with a personal blow, and in more extreme cases they might throw a tantrum. Their own attempts at self deprecating humor will always fall flat and make everyone else uncomfortable. The way people present themselves is rarely indicative of insecurity, watch their mannerisms instead.
Others may be clingy or continually seek assurance from friends and family. This can be frustrating, but it is also important to remember that these behaviors stem from feeling unworthy and that they often feel unhappy or frustrated themselves.
Across much of the world, it is no longer middle-aged adults who are the most miserable. Instead, young people, especially Gen Z, are reporting the highest levels of unhappiness of any age group.
One sign of insecurity is low self-esteem or negative self-image, particularly when that image seems to be inconsistent with external observation. Low self-esteem means you think badly about yourself or your abilities. It can lead to other problems, especially concerning mental health.
Gen Z is open and eager to explore their struggles with anxiety, depression, trauma, and triggers. They also seem to not only question authority, but understand the unresolved issues of previous generations in order to break the proverbial chain. Studies show Gen Z to be the least confident generation.
The 3 C's of Self-Esteem generally refer to Competence, Confidence, and Connection, representing key pillars for building strong self-worth by feeling capable, trusting yourself, and relating well to others. These elements work together in a cycle: developing skills builds competence, which fuels confidence, and positive connections reinforce your sense of self, creating a loop for growth and resilience.
It sounds simple, but putting others down brings themself up. People who put others down are typically deeply insecure about themself, so they pick on things of others to deflect the attention off of themself and make themselves feel better.
The kind of childhood you had, past traumas, recent experiences of failure or rejection, loneliness, social anxiety, negative beliefs about yourself, perfectionism, or having a critical parent or partner can all contribute to insecurity.