How to challenge your negative thoughts

Hey @J_Oz

welcome to the forum!! Nice to meet you.

what you wrote makes sense to me!!!

don’t be intimidated or concerned.

yes you’re right - while struggling so much I have to put a mask on for work.
I suffer from complex PTSD, depression. anxiety, BPD and childhood abuse.
I miss my dad terribly especially as it’s getting closer to Christmas and he’s aging. But my mother is a narcissistic controlling manipulative person

dialogue with my inner child - for me I’m struggling because at times my inner child voice in my head tells me what ti say in emailing my psych. And my behavior at times is very child like.

Hope you’re doing ok. happy to chat anytime.

Hi @rav3n

I ended up going outside in the garden for a bit. But still very restless agitated and angry with myself.

Thanks for your suggestions though. They are good ones!!

ha ha I haven’t taken any slow deep breaths. I must stop and do.

Hi @BlueBay

Thank you for your kind welcome. It was a relief to hear that I didn't say something that was inflammatory. The psyche is such a complicated piece of neural architecture and there are mindfields to traverse with very scant safe zones.

If it is not too much to ask, may I enquire what voice the internal "child" speaks? Is it a hypercritical one that resonants with your authoritarian parents voice?

hi @J_Oz

yes the dialogue is ALWAYS very critical, negative and statements that i believe. and it comes from my mother. i was under my mum's control for a very very long time. now i don't see her i am starting to learn to trust myself and believe in myself - but i do miss my poor dad.

and all these core beliefs have affected me terribly.

Hi @BlueBay

I think I understand you a little better now.

Would you say that the hyper critical voice is the facet of your psyche that you find alien to your sense of self?

hi @J_Oz

i think so!! Still trying to work through this, it seems all new and strange to me. It's interesting how I am finding more and more about myself and my behaviours are not always me as the adult but more me as the inner child.

Hi @BlueBay

Would you say that having this hyper critical facet to your psyche would come in very handy in particular circumstances? Perhaps it would be a great thing to have if you happen to find yourself in "polite company" and the topic of "acceptable" support for Israeli genocide was being discussed? Unleasing this facet would awesome then.

Hi @BlueBay

I am obviously no psychologist, but perhaps you are misidentifying these facets? Perhaps the hypercritical facet is your unruly child, like one of those impertinent kids that always says "no" to everything. Perhaps your maternal facet is the supportive and inclusive facet?

Perhaps framing it this way will allow you to be less burdened by this hypercritical facet. No doubt there are many mums out there that have developed strategies to give love and affection to these children whilst having time out. Perhaps giving this child the space to play and integrate with communities that allow its expression to be voice where your maternal side will not only accept its inclusion, but will be proud of its expression.

No doubt in our fractious and destructive society, there are all manner of issues and groups for which this facet would find its place to positively contribute. Perhaps Women's Liberation or support for Palestine would be avenues to investigate?

Hi @J_Oz

Unfortunately those aren’t topics I can relate to. But I appreciate your comments and thank you for your support.