When our self-esteem is low it can feel like everyone else in the world is 'getting it' but us. To my mind, low self-esteem, self-judgement, shame and isolation all co-exist cosily together and create fertile ground for each other. Because self-judgement will undermine our self-esteem, and lead to us feeling ashamed of ourselves. This happy combination then naturally leads us to draw inwards, away from the gaze of the world around us, and into isolation where nobody can see how 'worthless' we are (or believe ourselves to be).
Addressing this inner critic or inner judge is one of the keys to reclaiming our self-esteem.