Fighting the CPTSD Inner Critic while at work.

[chamomilevibes]

How do we shut out the CPTSD inner critic when they are so loud while we are working? I can't get any small task down without it feeling like a struggle against a titan and taking far too much time to be efficient to company work flow.

[brokenlight]

In my experience, it’s impossible just to shut off.

But awareness, mindfulness, and taking time to focus on our breath can help.

Mantras are also useful as well.

Best of luck

I have CPTSD too

✨

[chamomilevibes in reply to brokenlight]

It's nice to know that I'm not alone. I tried to focus on breathing and grounding techniques, but I was so panicked that I couldn't even focus on either yesterday. My therapist was able to talk me through it, but I just don't seem to be making any progress.

[brokenlight in reply to chamomilevibes]

Talking through it will your therapist IS progress 👏🏾✨

[Tara52]

What are the loudest thoughts? I was taught that counter-acting those critical thoughts have to be heard just before sleep, during "theta " brain waves in order for them to get into your subconscious mind. 🤗

[Beevee]

Anxious thoughts are created by a anxious mind. The best way to shut them up is to let them have their say and then let them go. They cannot survive if we pay them no respect.

[chamomilevibes in reply to Beevee]

I've heard conflicting things on that wrt to CPTSD Inner Critic voices though. I've been told to fight them and tell them no and then also I've been told to listen to them. I've tried both and neither work, since I end up believing the horrible things it says about me anyway.

[rmt89]

Hi, for many years I would counter the critical thoughts with truths. I drew upon bible verses about being loved, wanted and not alone, etc... That did make a difference....to a point. Planting seeds of truth was the good part. But years later I wondered why I still dealt with feelings not congruent to myself and my choices. And the critics was like a chisel, chipping away at my energy and sense if self. It became a roller coaster of ups and downs. What I've learned in EMDR therapy was recognizing that the inner critics were different aspects of my inner child that were trying to get my attention. So I've begun to see these aspects of self with compassion and I'm working on building a relationship of trust with these aspects. And as I could see the intention, e.g. an angry part blaming me, and I could see this aspect was trying to protect me, the critic started to soften. Best analogy is the wizard in the wizard of Oz; the ominous booming voice and the uncertainty of where the voice was coming from, and not knowing how to disarm it, the curtain gets pulled and you see the aspect was trying to look and sound mean and powerful to protect a traumatized part of you. Once trust is built with an aspect then you can integrate that aspect with your present self. The eye movements of EMDR then helps to release these aspects time bound in the past. Wish I had understood years ago, but happy I'm experiencing meaningful change.

[misslillie]

I hope you can find answers here because you describe the experience of cPTSD better than any I have read so far and that in itself is a comfort to me