BREAK THE CYCLE OF LOW SELF-ESTEEM

JASON FUGATE creative director jason@akersmediagroup.com

VOLKAN ULGEN art director volkan@akersmediagroup.com

JOSH CLARK senior designer josh@akersmediagroup.com

MICHAEL GAULIN production director michael@akersmediagroup.com

FRED LOPEZ chief photographer // fred@akersmediagroup.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

FRED HILTON, RICHARD T. BOSSHARDT M.D., JAIME ALONSO, BRIDGET WEBBER, B.E. CONRAD, SUSIE YAKOWICS

SALES // MARKETING

TIM MCRAE / vice president of sales tim@akersmediagroup.com

MIKE STEGALL advertising executive mike@akersmediagroup.com

CREE HOWARD sales executive assistant cree@akersmediagroup.com

Do you ever tell yourself that you are not good enough or unworthy? If so, you are not alone. Low self-esteem is a common problem that can trigger or worsen the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. The negative and self-critical thoughts experienced by those living with low self-esteem can lead to a cycle of low mood and feelings of worthlessness, making it ever more difficult to deal with work, family, and everyday problems. Breaking the cycle of low selfesteem takes time and commitment, but the results can be life- changing.

Feelings of low self-worth often begin in childhood, particularly if parents are excessively critical. Children with a history of abuse, neglect, or being bullied are especially prone to feelings of low self-worth later in life. However, low self-esteem also can be the result of negative life experiences in adulthood, such as a relationship breakdown, job loss, death of a loved one, or being diagnosed with a serious illness. Underlying mental health problems, such as depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety disorder, can also trigger low self-esteem.

For these reasons, we dedicate our July issue each year to looking good and feeling good about yourself. It’s not about how you look; it’s about how you feel about yourself. Evidence has shown that when someone feels good about their appearance—and they feel healthy—they ultimately value themselves more.

JACQUELYN SINGER advertising executive jacquelyn@akersmediagroup.com

TATIANNA GELIGA sales executive assistant tatianna@akersmediagroup.com

ADMINISTRATION

DEB MATLOCK / office manager deb@akersmediagroup.com

AUBREY AKERS / advertising coordinator aubrey@akersmediagroup.com

DISTRIBUTION

SCOTT HEGG / distribution manager scott.hegg@akersmediagroup.com

DIGITAL SOCIAL MEDIA

GARRETT REARDON / digital specialist garrett@akersmediagroup.com

Making just a few small changes to your lifestyle can make a big difference in the way you feel about yourself. Cutting down on stimulants such as caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol can help reduce stress levels, while increasing the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet ensures adequate nutrition and helps improve mental health. Learning a new skill, getting involved with a worthy cause, or engaging in social activities may give you a new sense of purpose and help build your sense of self-worth.

We hope you find this month’s issue helpful and that it encourages you to make the necessary adjustments in your life so you can look good and feel even better.

Until next month, Kendra Akers