Her self-confidence had taken a battering.batteringbat‧tering /ˈbætərɪŋ/ noun [countable, uncountable] 
Her self-confidence had taken a battering.2British English when someone or something is hit many times
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Her self-confidence had taken a battering.
1when someone or something is severely damaged, defeated, criticized etc: Her self-confidence had taken a battering. Her self-confidence had taken a battering.2British English when someone or something is hit many times