Self-Criticism is the topic of the month for November in the #AutisticBurnout#ActuallyAutistic#ClinicalPsychologist 8/8
Consider what your needs really are in this situation and if you could meet them. Be compassionate about your lack of compassion for yourself, it's hard to break a life long habit, aim to be just a little bit kinder. 7/8
Try to imagine what you would say to yourself if you were being compassionate. By compassionate I mean wise, strong and kind, not necessarily soft. You might want to do something that is hard because you care for yourself. What would you say to someone you cared for? 6/8
When we are acting to appease our self-critic it can help to examine the reality of the situation. What would really happen if you did or didn't do what your self critic was telling you?5/8
Self-criticism keeps our threat (fight, flight, freeze, faun) system online, increases cortisol, prevents us from understanding and meeting our needs, reducing stressors and increasing soothing regulating activity, exhausting us and contributing to #AutisticBurnout 4/8
Autistic People are at risk of self criticism for several reasons: The experience of being different, bullied, or criticised for not understanding NT social cues. Being criticised for stimming, gaslit about sensory or emotional experiences. Having our behaviour 'controlled' 3/8
Self-criticism is an internal voice or feeling that we are doing something wrong, should be doing something, are wrong or flawed in some way. Often we have internalised the voice of a critical parent, teacher or peer. It can be obvious or subtle, e.g. 'I should try harder' 2/8
Self-criticism is one of the major barriers to recovery I see in my #AutisticBurnout clients. But what is it? Why do we do it? What's the problem with it? and What can we do about it? A thread 1/8
I’m looking forward to running this workshop live for the first time today. It starts at 2pm London time so if you haven’t joined the membership already there is still time. It will also be repeated at 9am on Thursday. Link in bio #actuallyautistic#autisticburnout
