Five Simple Steps To Overcome Your Inner Alcohol CritiqueBy Michaela Weaver

Our Inner Voice

We’re all looking for intense flavors in a drink, but we’re not looking for intense criticism.

‘Our voices, our future,’ they say, but what if they are negative and destructive? What should we do?

To forget about this so-called ‘bitter fate’, some turn to a shot of alcohol for a brief respite.

You’re probably familiar with voices that say things like “You’re not good enough,” “You’re not deserving,” “You’re a failure,” and other similar phrases. You’re well aware of how it feels to be on the receiving end of such scathing, meaningless self-criticism.

These degrading remarks may crush you to the point where you need to shut it down, even if only for a short while.

You might want to take a mini-vacation and turn to alcohol for a solution. Let’s pretend you’ve been having so much fun on your brief vacation that you’ve lost track of how many shots you’ve had.

Is that a problem? No, because the underlying issue is your problematic alcohol consumption, which stems from your need to forget about your damaging thoughts and shut down your inner critic.

Several studies have shown that those who struggle with problematic alcohol use self-medicate.

They’re attempting to make themselves feel better or less bad in some situations.

It may take some time for you to discover this, but eventually, you will recognize that the costs outweigh the benefits.

The first thing that will spring to mind at this point is that you want to change, but is that the first step toward defeating your inner alcoholic critic? Obviously not.

It is a stage in the process, but it is not the first. It is a long and difficult trip to overcome your inner critic, but it is always worthwhile, and you should always start small.

‘You are your worst critic,’ they say, and your inner critic speaks to you in a way that no one else can.

Yes, it is correct! We always listen to our inner critic, even if it is emotionally destructive, and we allow it to affect and destroy us the majority of the time.

Be Mindful of Your Feelings

The real first step toward overcoming your internal criticism is to become aware of and acknowledge your feelings.

Mindfulness allows you to recognize your inner critics and permits you to leave hurtful situations or thoughts behind.

But how does it do this?

Well, it teaches you how to avoid listening to those very intrusive thoughts.

It opens your eyes to the truth; that voice is only there to spread lies about you and exacerbate your problems.

Remember that once you’re no longer under the effect of alcohol, your inner critic will scream shame, remorse, and every other bad emotion that existed before you started drinking.

However, you should also remember that the mind does have a mind of its own. Furthermore, thoughts are simply that: thoughts.

This is why mindfulness is so important: it allows you to distinguish between constructive and destructive thoughts.

Have Someone You Can Lean On

After you’ve become aware of your thoughts and acknowledged them, call a trusted friend to talk about what your inner critic is telling you and how it’s hurting you.

This is an excellent approach to bring your darker thoughts into the light. Always remember that whatever strived on in the dark will lose its power once brought into the light.

Don’t be scared to show your vulnerability in front of your friends, especially those you trust! It may seem ludicrous at first, and you may be hesitant and unsure where to begin, but persevere until you find that your inner critic has vanished and has long since sailed away.

Prove Yourself Wrong, Re-examine Who You Are

You may feel lighter after sharing your innermost thoughts; now is the time to review the evidence for why you are thinking that way about yourself.

Your thoughts aren’t always accurate; in fact, they’re frequently overly pessimistic. It’s critical to analyze the evidence before believing your thoughts and allowing them to damage or hurt you.

If you’re thinking to yourself, “I’m going to embarrass myself when I deliver that presentation,” take a moment to relax and take a breath.

Take a piece of paper and jot down all of the evidence that you think may suggest that you’ll fail or that supports your negative feelings. Then, on the bright side, make a list of all the reasons why you won’t fail.

This is an excellent method to look at all sides of the issue and help you think about the problem more sensibly and less emotionally.

This is a helpful reminder to yourself that your thoughts aren’t always accurate, and it can help you gain confidence and control.

Leave The Dark Alley And Go To The Bright Side

By now, you should start replacing your exaggerated negative thoughts with more realistic and optimistic ones.

When you realize that your negative thoughts aren’t entirely accurate, consider replacing them with something more realistic and hopeful.

You don’t need to make too optimistic assertions; overconfidence can be just as harmful as genuine self-doubt. However, to become psychologically stronger, you must have a balanced, realistic outlook.

Strike a Balance

Finally, strike a balance between self-improvement and self-acceptance.

How?

Accept your flaws for what they are right now while committing to future improvement.

Although it may seem counterintuitive, you may do both at the same time.

For example, you could admit that you are nervous about an impending work presentation while still deciding to enhance your public speaking skills.

Accept yourself as you are today while working toward being a better version of yourself in the future.

Remember that there’s a world of difference between telling yourself that you’re not good enough and reminding yourself that you can always do better.

Your mind can either be your best friend or your worst foe. It’s critical to properly train it and make friends with your dark shadows, such as your inner critic.

The good news is that there are books that you can read to help you, along with some healthy coping techniques, which will enable you to mute harmful self-criticism for good.

With practice, you can cultivate a more productive inner conversation that will help you achieve your objectives. Maintain as much positivity as possible in your thoughts.

Positive thinking can help you manage your stress and possibly enhance your health. Indeed, some research suggests that personality traits like optimism and pessimism might have an impact on a variety of aspects of your health and well-being.

Positive thinking, which is often associated with optimism, is an important component of good stress management.