Inadequacy can drive an individual insane.

Inadequacy simply means incomplete, insufficient, and lacking.
However, when a person feels inadequate, he has a sense of low self worth, low self esteem and feels that he is never good enough. An inadequate person may not have confidence in himself, might find himself a burden, and thinks that the world is probably better without him.

People feel inadequate because of several reasons.
– Some feel inadequate because of shame resulting from past failures. When your past failures come back to haunt you, you may experience disappointment in yourself and doubt your own capabilities.
– Some feel inadequate because they were bullied and abused when they were younger. Constantly being bullied and labelled as stupid or lousy will result in an individual carrying these labels growing up. When a child is told he is stupid and lousy, he will grow up thinking that he is stupid or lousy.
– Others may feel inadequate because they are unable to meet expectations set by parents or bosses or people in authority. When one is unable to perform up to such expectations, once again shame sets in as a result due to disappointment and being upset with one’s (in)capabilities.
– People can also feel inadequate when they are unable to meet demands from society. The media portrays a certain expectation of how people should be, and society demands people to be capable, efficient and professional. Sometimes such demands are unrealistic and unreasonable, and inadequacy sets in when we can’t conform to society’s standards.
– Lastly, people feel inadequate because, simply, we compare ourselves to others. It is easy to feel inadequate, especially in an age of social media where everybody is well-connected, because it is so easy to look into the lives of others and make a comparison.

Yet in reality, when people feel inadequate, how many of them are actually incomplete, insufficient or lacking?
People often overlook their own positive traits, strengths and successes.
Nobody is perfect, but inadequacy is a magnifying glass that highlights all your incapabilities, flaws, shame and failures.

People cope differently when feeling inadequate.
Usually, it begins with feeling pessimistic about life and situations. However, we need to truly understand that others may be going through the same struggles as well, but they just choose not to show or portray their insecurities.
Some isolate themselves. Keeping to themselves all the time and only going out when necessary. During which, locking their struggles and suppressing their emotions, and putting on a strong front when socializing is required.

I’m not a trained psychiatrist or therapist, but what I feel we can do as inadequate individuals is to embrace our inadequacy. It is our imperfection that makes us beautiful, because we aren’t supposed to be alone. We live for one another. We acknowledge we need one another. We encourage one another. We are there for one another.

No man is an island. Nobody needs to feel alone.
We can’t do things on our own because we are vulnerable.

We are inadequate,
But being together makes us whole.