A wise fellow once said:
“It is clear self-deprecation is unhealthy, both psychologically and for public relations.”
That statement is clearly true. If an individual speaks negatively of themself, they have processed a statement internally and broadcast verbally to the universe that they should be negatively perceived.
Every conscious action is the product of each instant which the individual has experienced up to that point in time. One conditions their mind through what they choose to think and do. Consistent input is engrained deepest and becomes reality, the intake of information and understanding of relations between data is the most basic function of the conscious mind.
The social and habitual behavior of a lifeform is also related directly to the behavior of all others, which in turn is due to the actions of every living creature up until the first moment two minds perceived one another.
Making a conscious decision to degrade oneself is not only harmful, but intentionally so. There is no defense for this behavior, which tends to be interpreted by others as rude. No creature truly wants to witness another meditate on their physical and mental imperfection, as it draws attention to the frailty of all things.
It is important to actively recognize areas for improvement and to engage others in assisting where possible. To choose not to is to wrong humanity.
It can be difficult to notice when you may be acting in such a manner, Self-deprecating behavior extends well beyond verbally degrading oneself. Through unhealthy habits people often consciously make the decision to physically and mentally harm themselves. Drug use is an obvious example. Even light alcohol consumption slowly eats away at the liver.
What’s worse is that today there are people actively or unwittingly sabotaging their children as well. For example, prescriptions for various central nervous system stimulants are handed out to children like candy, while their long term negative side effects have been known for years. The parents may not be entirely aware of the harmful nature of such substances and may not have assumed their child is “in need” of such medication prior to consulting a medical professional.
The doctor says the patient is not up to standards, the parent agrees, and the child consents to the medication, beginning the formation of chemical dependency.
Ultimately, thoughts such as “I am not good enough,” “I can’t function without it” and “I am stupid” are typical to the child, and through repetition they become a fact within the child’s subjective reality, reinforcing their dependency.
Self-deprecation without action is dangerous, selfish and inconsiderate. Certainly there are those who have difficulty functioning without medication, and I do not mean to belittle them. However, one who is aware of their own abilities for self improvement, yet chooses to focus on their problems without actively seeking healthy solutions is more often than not harming themselves and doing a disservice to those around them.