The Inner Critic of Complex Post Traumatic Stress
Trauma Rewired
Understanding the Inner Critic in Complex Trauma
Exploring the origins and impact of the inner critic in individuals with Complex Post Traumatic Stress, highlighting how it stems from developmental trauma responses. The chapter delves into the neurological aspects of self-criticism, discussing reflexive trauma responses versus cognitive reactions and the link to attachment wounds. It also touches on the cycle of self-criticism, perfectionism, and how childhood experiences shape the inner critic voice in adults.
We’ve all experienced the inner critic to some extent. You know, that voice inside of your head saying you’re not good enough, or that you’re a bad person. Where does this voice come from and why is it so vicious? Well, for people dealing with CPTS, this voice is even louder, and even more critical. The volume gets turned up ten notches, and turning it off feels like a game of tug of war. Understanding where this voice comes from and how it manifests is a crucial part to replacing the inner critic with self compassion.
On this episode of Trauma Rewired, Elisabeth and Jennifer sit down to discuss the inner critic, specifically the severity of it when it comes to people with CPTS, what activates the inner critic loop cycle, what part of the brain the inner critic activates, the reflexive responses associated with the inner critic, and finally, how NSI training can help with quieting the inner critic.
This type of reflexive response is created as a means of survival, the brain always wants to protect itself. However, the constant cycle of judgment, criticism, demeaning thoughts about the self becomes maladaptive when it stops serving its original purpose.
There is a way to quiet the inner critic, which we want to share with you today.
Tune in to find out how to turn down the volume on the inner critic, and the volume up on self compassion. Topics discussed in this episode:
- Characteristics of the inner critic for those experiencing CPTS
- Where the inner critic lives in the brain
- The fawn response and how it’s related to the inner critic
- What activates the inner critic loop?
- The root cause of the inner critic
- How authenticity is affected by attachment style
- Freeze trauma response
- The opposite of the inner critic
- How NSI training can move you out of the inner critic loop cycle
- The importance of creating an internal environment of safety
- Being exposed to other people’s inner critic
- Gossip as an external critic
- Combating the external critic with self compassion
If you would like to WATCH the episode and/or have closed captions, check out our Trauma Rewired YOUTUBE channel!
If you would like transcripts of this episode, you can find them HERE on Apple Podcasts.
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