self-hatred
Despising one's self
Self-hatred is intense dislike or contempt directed at oneself.
It goes beyond ordinary self-criticism to a persistent sense of worthlessness or disgust with one's own identity, choices, or nature.
The term often appears in psychological contexts: Years of bullying left her struggling with self-hatred.
Internalized self-hatred describes contempt absorbed from external prejudice—a gay man raised to believe homosexuality is sinful, or a person of color internalizing racist attitudes about their own group.
Intense physical aversion
- revulsionIntense physical disgust
- repugnanceIntense distaste or disgust
- aversionIntense dislike or repugnance
- abhorrenceExtreme hatred or disgust
Total absence of hope
- hopelessnessState without hope
- emptinessAbsence of substance
- anhedoniaInability to feel enjoyment
- numbnessLoss of sensation
melancholy · isolation · withdrawal · apathy · desolation · misery · fatigue · listlessness
Loss of dignity
- worthlessnessLack of any value
- disgraceLoss of honor
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
- stigmaMark of dishonor
inferiority · mortification · dishonor · abashment · chagrin · unworthiness · defeatism · degradation
Guilt for wrongdoing
- regretSorrow over past actions
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- culpabilityDeserving blame for wrongdoing
- penitenceRemorse for misdeeds
compunction · atonement · repentance · confession · reparation
Seeking out imperfections
- perfectionismCompulsive pursuit of flawlessness
- hypercriticalExcessively prone to censure
- overcriticalExcessively prone to faultfinding
- unforgivingShowing no leniency
Curative mental treatment
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
- psychotherapyTreatment through guided conversation
- affirmationPositive statement of truth
resilience · mindfulness · growth · transformation · empowerment · wellness
disgust
Intense physical aversion
- revulsionIntense physical disgust
- repugnanceIntense distaste or disgust
- aversionIntense dislike or repugnance
despair
Total absence of hope
- hopelessnessState without hope
- emptinessAbsence of substance
- anhedoniaInability to feel enjoyment
numbness · melancholy · isolation · withdrawal · apathy · desolation · misery · fatigue · listlessness · bleakness
humiliation
Loss of dignity
- worthlessnessLack of any value
- disgraceLoss of honor
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
stigma · inferiority · mortification · dishonor · abashment · chagrin · unworthiness · defeatism · degradation
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
- regretSorrow over past actions
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- culpabilityDeserving blame for wrongdoing
penitence · compunction · atonement · repentance · confession · reparation
faultfinding
Seeking out imperfections
- perfectionismCompulsive pursuit of flawlessness
- hypercriticalExcessively prone to censure
- overcriticalExcessively prone to faultfinding
therapy
Curative mental treatment
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
- psychotherapyTreatment through guided conversation
affirmation · resilience · mindfulness · growth · transformation · empowerment · wellness
- self-loathinginner critic, worthlessness, unworthiness, toxic shame, beating yourself up
- colorismcolorism, colorist, skin lightening
- guiltguilty, guilt trip, guilty conscience, remorseful, contrition
- egoego, egoism, big ego, egotism, egocentrism
- abjectionabjection, disgust, revulsion, repulsion, loathing
self-hatredself-love
Prioritizing your own worth
self-acceptance · self-compassion · self-worship · self-admiration · narcissism
self-hatredself-esteem
One's sense of worth
self-confidence · self-assurance · self-worth · self-respect · self-belief
hate, self, hatred, selfish, hateful, hated, hates, hating, hater