…t keep people at a distance. We can start by paying attention to “critical inner voices” that fuel our feelings of discomfort and avoidance around accepting. We can try to be aware of the negative thoughts that come up when we’re on the receiving end of a kindness or acknowledgement. We may notice a range of thoughts that minimize, critique, or deny us like, “I didn’t really do anything special.” “I don’t need any help.” “This is my burden, not th…
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…2. Get out of your head – In part 1 of this blog I wrote about a “critical inner voice” we all possess that pounces on us when we’re struggling and turns against us in the face of challenges. This “voice” has a tendency to get louder when we’re alone and in our heads, criticizing and evaluating us in harsh ways. It also encourages us to think no one cares about us or wants to hear from us. Getting to know this inner critic and noticing when it pop…
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…ere it says “Quality” select “720p HD.” Download Slides from “The Critical Inner Voice That Causes Depression” Here Watch Dr. Robert Firestone describe the Steps in Voice Therapy: Recommended Books See all Upcoming PsychAlive Webinars Learn about upcoming free and CE PsychAlive Webinars with leading experts in the field of psychology. Support PsychAlive.org and The Glendon Association in their mission to advance mental health by bringi…
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…Dr. Robert Firestone explains the five steps of Voice Therapy, a process by which people can identify and overcome their “Critical Inner Voice.”…
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…ead of simply acting based on how we feel, we are advised by our “critical inner voice”: “Don’t be a fool.” “Don’t let her know how much you like her.” “Don’t tell him what you’re really thinking.” Although these thoughts may seem self-protective, they’re actually self-sabotaging. While it may sometimes feel like we have to outsmart our feelings so as not to get hurt, when it comes to our relationships, we are far better off being vulnerable, maki…
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…feelings of shame, humiliation, and self-loathing. Be aware of a “critical inner voice” that starts attacking you when you’re vulnerable. Remember, it’s not just what happens to us in life that affects us but what we tell ourselves about what happens. Losing someone will cause real sadness, but there’s a whole new level of pain opened up by the inner dialogue that’s been set off in our heads. Common post-break-up thoughts or critical inner voices…
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…the ways we self-sabotage. We all harbor a cruel inner coach or “critical inner voice” that tells us we aren’t strong enough or that we’ll never succeed. This voice can be self-critical feeding us thoughts like, “You can’t handle this stress. You just don’t have what it takes. You will never amount to anything. Quit dreaming already.” The inner coach can also seem self-soothing, tricking us with thoughts like, “Just take it easy; you don’t have t…
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…. This form of maladaptive thinking, which is referred to as the “critical inner voice,” leads a child to feel mentally defeated and victimized by circumstances. Allowing our kids to ruminate or act on these critical inner voices can have harmful effects. Instead, encourage them to identify these negative thoughts and challenge them in their actions. Conquer Your Critical Inner Voice, a book I co-authored with Dr. Robert Firestone and Joyce Catlet…
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…ercome it. One important step in this process is to recognize the critical inner voices (harsh self-critical thoughts) that seep into our consciousness, both causing and exacerbating depression. When people feel depressed, it makes them especially susceptible to self-attacks. They may hear thoughts like: You’re so lazy. You’re bothering everyone. Stop moping around. You’re such a burden. This line of thinking reflects distorted perceptions that ar…
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…of our many faults as well as those of our partner. Be wary of a critical inner voice telling us to be upset, suspicious and mistrusting. That voice may be saying things like, “Where is he tonight? I can’t believe he didn’t call you. He’s so insensitive.” Or, “All that she ever does is nag at me. Why won’t she just leave me alone?” These thoughts are rarely entirely accurate representations of our partners. Still, the more we react to them, the m…
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