Abuse
Abuse includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, or wound an individual. All abuse is distructive!
Because of my own background, I chose many years ago to focus on helping girls and women who have also experienced abuse. Anyone who has been abused, overtly or covertly, who hasn't dealt with issues related to or as a result of their abuse has self-esteem issues. You may dress it up with the perfect clothes, jewelry, hairstyle and make-up, a beautiful house or fancy car, the perfect education, husband, children, education for your children, social groups and activities, you may wear the perfect smile all day long when you can be seen, but if you haven't dealth with those issues, you are crying deeply beneath that facade. The harder you try to push it down, the more chronic it becomes, until one day, you just can't hold it all in place any more.
I know, I've been there.