Chronic Self-Doubt and Low Self-Trust: When You Keep Questioning Yourself Despite “Knowing Better”
If you struggle with self-doubt, it may not look like insecurity in the traditional sense. You’re thoughtful. You reflect. You consider all angles. You take responsibility seriously.
And yet:
You second-guess decisions
You seek reassurance even when you’re capable
You struggle to trust your instincts
You fear getting it wrong, socially, professionally, emotionally
This isn’t a lack of confidence. It’s often a nervous system pattern.
How Self-Doubt Develops
Chronic self-doubt often forms in environments where:
Approval felt conditional
Emotional needs were minimized
You learned to monitor others closely
Mistakes carried emotional consequences
Over time, your system learned that safety came from checking, anticipating, and correcting yourself.
Why Insight Doesn’t Resolve It
Many women understand why they doubt themselves, yet still feel stuck in it.
That’s because self-trust isn’t built through logic alone. It’s built through repeated nervous system experiences of safety, agency, and internal permission.
EMDR therapy helps process the experiences that taught your system it wasn’t safe to rely on yourself, allowing trust to rebuild organically, not forcefully.
What Healing Looks Like
As self-trust strengthens, clients often notice:
Less mental spiraling
More ease in decision-making
Increased tolerance for uncertainty
A quieter inner critic
Self-trust doesn’t mean never doubting, it means not abandoning yourself when doubt arises.
If anything you read resonates or interests you, I encourage you to connect for a free, no pressure, 15 minute phone consultation.
By Lisa Slone, LCSW-R | EMDR Therapist
