Depression is Closely Linked to Self Criticism

I am feeling sad, very sad…and then there’s this voice, inside of me, that keeps telling me I am just not good enough! It’s terrible! And this inner critic is found to be closely linked to Depression.

When you are sad, your inner critic makes you sadder…

When you feel bad, your inner critic makes it worse…

And even when everything is quite alright, your inner critic won’t sit quiet! It has to tell you that something is wrong with you!

How can you Shut UP your inner critic?

First and formost, it would be very useful to start recording your self critical judgements. Go on, write down all those things that your inner critic has to say about you.

I am not good enough… I am silly… I am old… I am getting old… I am ugly…

I am stupid…I am worthless…I am not likeable…I am boring…

I am an idiot…I am so fat…I am a failure… the list goes on and on…

Write down whatever self critical statements you can. Don’t worry, it’s not necessary that you capture everything on paper. Besides, the self critical thoughts that trouble you most will automatically find their way into your journal. The important thing to remember, however, is to guard yourself against ruminating on your recorded statements of self criticism.

Sometimes, people find themselves writing out their self critical statements only to delve into them further. The purpose of keeping a journal, of what your inner critic has to say, is to enable you to evaluate and challenge it later. Not for you to sink more into self criticism, as is bound to happen in the case of rumination.

To avoid yourself from getting stuck with your inner critic has to say, it maybe a good idea to set a time limit to recording your self critical thoughts.

Mostly, you will find that monitoring your self critical judgements in itself acts as a deterrent to your inner critic.

Once you have your self critical statements on record, it’s time to take an objective look at what you’ve written. You may find it useful to take the help of a trusted friend or family member or maybe even a professional to help you evaluate your inner critic and challenge it!

http://healthmad.com/mental-health/depression-is-closely-linked-to-self-criticism/