im so self-critical and have no confidence in myself...help!

Lack of self esteem can sometimes be a reflection of social anxiety or Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Or, there might be something in your upbringing that led you to think of yourself as unworthy of praise. Whether your feelings are internal or from an external source they can be helped by talking to a qualified therapist. You might look for a social worker/counselor who has experience in treating anxiety. You might get a referral to a phychologist or psychiatrist, but this is not always the next step.

One of the first things you might try is catching yourself in negative self talk. Whenever you hear yourself thinking along the lines of, "I'm so ....." (fill in your favorite negative remark about yourself), catch yourself doing it and force yourself to change it over to an affirmation statement such as, "No, I'm not ....., I'm actually quite (opposite)". Your boyfriend is telling you the truth from his perspective, but you won't be able to hear it until you're willing to hear it from yourself.

Try affirmation statements in front of the mirror each morning. You might feel strange giving yourself compliments, but you'll be by yourself and it's part of accepting your self worth.

Good luck!

I had and sometimes still do, this problem.... but all I think is... why should I care what they think... seriously, you only live once, why does it matter what others think....

Once I stopped caring, I stopped stressing and now I feel comfortable with myself...

I also have anxiety as JB was saying in her post, so that could have something to do with it!!

You can't find a single thing about yourself that you like...well, why don't you focus yourself towards achieving excellence in something that you can then feel good about.

You're not stuck with it.

You do have to work your way out of it though. Are you prepared to be uncomfortable and to do whatever it takes to change it?

In my experience, you learn to love yo'self by working at something that is hard. Something that makes you want to run away. Something that you deeply want to give up on; but you don't. That's how we learn we are worth something good.

Pick anything: Your career, a sport, or even battling down the negative picture you have created for yourself. Just follow it through doggedly.

thanx for your advice! i dont think it's anxiety, as it isnt all the time, but i am going to work on the positives more!
flushd - i am prepared to try and work through it. i think im gonna try to focus on my career.
Thanx again, keep the advice coming!

Once you realise that underneath, most people have these anxieteies the easier things will be.
People are too paranoid wondering about what yuo thenk of them that Im sure they dont think about you as much as you think they do.

If people do be nasty to you it says a hell of alot more about them than it does about you.