Solar Plexus Blocked Signs: Low Self-Esteem & Control Issues
Your solar plexus chakra is your power center—the energy hub that governs confidence, willpower, self-esteem, and your sense of personal authority. When this third chakra flows freely, you feel empowered, decisive, and in control of your life. But when it's blocked, a distinct pattern emerges: low self-worth, people-pleasing, difficulty making decisions, digestive issues, and either excessive control or complete powerlessness.
Recognizing the signs of a blocked solar plexus chakra is crucial for reclaiming your personal power. These symptoms aren't permanent character traits—they're signals from your energy system that your power center needs healing attention.
This comprehensive guide reveals the telltale signs of solar plexus chakra blockage, why they occur, and how to heal them to restore your confidence, strengthen your willpower, and step into your authentic power.
Understanding Solar Plexus Chakra Blockages
What Is a Blocked Solar Plexus Chakra?
A blocked solar plexus chakra occurs when energy cannot flow freely through your third energy center located in your upper abdomen, around your stomach area. This blockage disrupts your sense of personal power, self-worth, and ability to take action in your life.
Common Causes of Solar Plexus Chakra Blockages:
- Childhood criticism or shaming
- Authoritarian or controlling parents
- Bullying or humiliation experiences
- Failure or rejection that damaged self-esteem
- Abusive relationships that undermined power
- Cultural or societal messages about worthlessness
- Chronic stress or burnout
- Digestive disorders or stomach trauma
When your solar plexus is blocked, you lose access to your inner fire, personal authority, and sense of self-worth.
Self-Esteem and Identity Signs
1. Low Self-Esteem and Self-Worth
The most obvious sign of solar plexus blockage is chronically low self-esteem:
- Feeling fundamentally "not good enough"
- Constant self-criticism and negative self-talk
- Comparing yourself unfavorably to others
- Difficulty accepting compliments
- Believing you don't deserve success or happiness
- Imposter syndrome—feeling like a fraud
- Minimizing your accomplishments
This isn't situational insecurity—it's a core belief that you lack inherent worth and value.
2. Weak Sense of Identity
The solar plexus governs your sense of self:
- Unclear about who you are or what you want
- Adopting others' opinions and preferences as your own
- Difficulty answering "Who am I?" beyond roles and relationships
- Feeling like you don't know yourself
- Identity crisis or confusion
- Chameleon-like behavior—changing to fit others' expectations
Without a strong solar plexus, you lack a solid sense of your authentic self.
3. Excessive Need for External Validation
When internal self-worth is weak, you seek it externally:
- Constantly seeking approval from others
- Basing your worth on others' opinions
- Needing praise and recognition to feel okay
- Devastated by criticism or rejection
- Social media addiction for validation
- Inability to feel good about yourself without external confirmation
Your sense of worth becomes dependent on others' approval rather than internal knowing.
Power and Control Signs
4. People-Pleasing and Difficulty Saying No
Blocked solar plexus energy manifests as chronic people-pleasing:
- Saying yes when you mean no
- Prioritizing others' needs over your own
- Fear of disappointing or angering others
- Difficulty setting boundaries
- Resentment from over-giving
- Losing yourself in trying to please everyone
You give away your power to avoid conflict or rejection.
5. Control Issues (Too Much or Too Little)
Solar plexus imbalances create extremes with control:
Excessive Control:
- Micromanaging everything and everyone
- Rigidity and inflexibility
- Anxiety when things are out of your control
- Controlling behavior in relationships
- Perfectionism and inability to delegate
Complete Powerlessness:
- Feeling like a victim of circumstances
- Believing you have no control over your life
- Passivity and learned helplessness
- Allowing others to make all decisions
- Giving up easily when faced with challenges
Both extremes reflect the same core issue: disconnection from healthy personal power.
6. Difficulty Making Decisions
A blocked solar plexus undermines decision-making ability:
- Analysis paralysis—overthinking every choice
- Constant second-guessing of decisions
- Seeking excessive input from others
- Fear of making the "wrong" choice
- Inability to trust your own judgment
- Procrastination on important decisions
- Regret and rumination after deciding
You don't trust yourself to make good choices, so every decision feels overwhelming.
Willpower and Action Signs
7. Lack of Willpower and Follow-Through
The solar plexus is your center of will and determination:
- Starting projects but never finishing
- Difficulty maintaining discipline or routines
- Giving up easily when things get hard
- Lack of motivation or drive
- Procrastination and avoidance
- Inability to stick to goals or commitments
Your inner fire—the drive to take action—is extinguished.
8. Passivity and Lack of Initiative
Blocked solar plexus energy creates passivity:
- Waiting for others to take the lead
- Difficulty taking initiative
- Reactive rather than proactive
- Letting life happen to you rather than creating it
- Avoiding responsibility or leadership
- Feeling stuck but not taking action to change
You become a passenger in your own life rather than the driver.
9. Fear of Taking Risks
Personal power requires the courage to take risks:
- Staying in comfort zone even when unhappy
- Fear of failure paralyzing action
- Avoiding opportunities that involve risk
- Playing it safe to avoid potential criticism
- Regret over risks not taken
- Envy of others who take bold action
Without confidence in yourself, every risk feels too dangerous.
Physical Signs of Blocked Solar Plexus
10. Digestive Issues and Stomach Problems
The solar plexus governs digestion—both physical and metaphorical:
- Chronic indigestion or acid reflux
- Stomach ulcers
- IBS or other digestive disorders
- Bloating and gas
- Nausea, especially when anxious
- Loss of appetite or stress eating
- "Butterflies" or knots in stomach
Your stomach literally reflects your inability to "digest" life experiences and assert your power.
11. Chronic Fatigue and Low Energy
The solar plexus is your inner sun—your source of vitality:
- Persistent tiredness and lack of energy
- Difficulty getting motivated
- Feeling drained by normal activities
- Adrenal fatigue or burnout
- Lack of enthusiasm or zest for life
When your inner fire is dim, physical energy follows.
12. Weight Issues (Excess or Deficiency)
Solar plexus imbalances can affect weight:
- Weight gain, especially around the midsection
- OR difficulty maintaining healthy weight
- Using food for emotional comfort or control
- Metabolic issues
- Body image issues tied to self-worth
Your relationship with your body often mirrors your relationship with your power.
Emotional and Mental Signs
13. Chronic Worry and Anxiety
Solar plexus blockages create specific anxiety patterns:
- Worry about what others think of you
- Anxiety about performance or competence
- Fear of judgment or criticism
- Overthinking and mental loops
- Stress about not being good enough
- Perfectionist anxiety
This anxiety stems from lack of confidence in yourself and your abilities.
14. Anger Issues (Suppressed or Explosive)
The solar plexus governs healthy assertion. Blockages create extremes:
Suppressed Anger:
- Inability to express anger appropriately
- Passive-aggressive behavior
- Turning anger inward (depression, self-harm)
- Resentment that builds over time
Explosive Anger:
- Rage outbursts disproportionate to triggers
- Using anger to feel powerful
- Aggressive or dominating behavior
- Anger as defense against vulnerability
Healthy anger—assertive boundary-setting—is inaccessible.
15. Shame and Humiliation Sensitivity
The solar plexus is vulnerable to shame:
- Intense shame reactions to mistakes
- Humiliation feeling unbearable
- Avoiding situations where you might be embarrassed
- Carrying shame from past experiences
- Believing you are fundamentally flawed
- Shame spirals that are hard to escape
Shame attacks your core sense of worth, directly wounding the solar plexus.
How to Heal a Blocked Solar Plexus Chakra
Recognizing these signs is the beginning. Healing requires rebuilding your power from within:
Physical Practices
- Core-strengthening solar plexus yoga poses (Boat Pose, Warrior III, Plank)
- Martial arts or empowering physical activities
- Breathwork (especially fire breath)
- Abdominal massage
- Sunlight exposure (solar plexus = inner sun)
Nutrition
- Eat solar plexus foods—yellow foods and whole grains
- Digestive healers (ginger, turmeric, fennel)
- Fermented foods for gut health
- Eat with confidence and self-worth
Confidence Building
- Set small goals and achieve them
- Practice making decisions and trusting yourself
- Celebrate your accomplishments
- Identify and challenge negative self-talk
- Build competence in areas that matter to you
Boundary Work
- Practice saying no
- Set and maintain healthy boundaries
- Stop people-pleasing behaviors
- Assert your needs and preferences
- Stand up for yourself
Energy Work
- Solar plexus crystals (Citrine, Tiger's Eye, Yellow Jasper)
- Solar plexus meditation
- Solar plexus affirmations
- Reiki or energy healing focused on the solar plexus
Therapeutic Support
- Therapy for self-esteem issues
- Cognitive behavioral therapy for negative thought patterns
- Inner child work for childhood wounds
- Assertiveness training
When to Seek Professional Help
Some solar plexus blockages require professional support:
- Severe self-esteem issues affecting daily functioning
- Eating disorders or serious digestive disorders
- Chronic anxiety or depression
- Abusive relationship patterns
- Trauma that undermined your sense of power
Consider working with therapists, nutritionists, or energy healers who can provide personalized support.
The Journey of Solar Plexus Healing
Healing a blocked solar plexus chakra is a journey of reclaiming your power—not power over others, but power over your own life. You're learning to trust yourself, value yourself, and act from a place of inner authority rather than external validation.
This healing often involves confronting deep wounds to your self-worth. Be patient with yourself. Your solar plexus blockage likely developed over years of messages that you weren't enough. Rebuilding takes time.
But here's the truth: You are powerful. You are worthy. You are enough—exactly as you are.
Your confidence doesn't come from being perfect. It comes from knowing your inherent worth and trusting yourself to handle whatever life brings.
You are the author of your life. You have the power to choose. You are worthy of taking up space.
Your healing begins now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can digestive issues really be caused by chakra blockages?
Chakra blockages can contribute to digestive issues, though medical causes should always be ruled out. Energy and physical health are interconnected.
How long does solar plexus healing take?
Healing timelines vary. Some notice increased confidence within weeks, while deeper self-worth issues may take months or years to fully heal.
Can I have low self-esteem even if I seem confident?
Yes. Many people with blocked solar plexus chakras develop a confident exterior that masks deep insecurity.
Is people-pleasing always a solar plexus issue?
People-pleasing often indicates solar plexus blockage, though it can also involve other chakras (root for safety, heart for love).
Will healing my solar plexus make me aggressive or selfish?
No. Healthy solar plexus energy is confident and assertive, not aggressive. It's about balanced power, not domination.
Can solar plexus blockages cause weight gain?
Solar plexus imbalances can affect metabolism and relationship with food, potentially contributing to weight issues.
Is it normal to feel angry during solar plexus healing?
Yes! Suppressed anger often emerges during healing. This is healthy—learning to express anger appropriately is part of reclaiming power.
Continue Your Solar Plexus Healing Journey
Deepen your healing with these complementary resources:
- Solar Plexus Complete Guide - Comprehensive understanding of Manipura
- Take the Free Chakra Test - Assess your solar plexus health
- Solar Plexus Foods Guide - Nutrition for confidence and power
- Solar Plexus Affirmations - Healing statements for self-worth
- Solar Plexus Yoga Poses - Core work for personal power
- Solar Plexus Meditation - Energy healing practices
Your power is your birthright. Your worth is inherent. Your confidence is waiting to be claimed.