There are many reasons why people might feel self-conscious. Some factors that can play a role include: Anxiety disorders, such as social anxiety disorder Depression Difficult childhood experiences Poor self-esteem Other mental health conditions, such as borderline personality disorder (BPD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Traumatic events

Self-consciousness comes from self-awareness. The emotions that come from them help us perceive how we fit into society. Self-awareness helps us improve social functioning. Violating a group’s social rules causes guilt, shame, and embarrassment. While uncomfortable and disconcerting, these emotions can result in social acceptance.

Self-consciousness is often associated with shyness and embarrassment, in which case a lack of pride and low self-esteem can result. In a positive context, self-consciousness may affect the development of identity, for it is during periods of high self-consciousness that people come the closest to knowing themselves objectively.