How do I deal with a very negative inner voice/second conscience that's constantly loud? It's like I have two different people in my head but they're both me, telling me opposite things endlessly.
schmorp @ schmorpel @slrpnk.net Posts 8Comments 293Joined 2 yr. ago

schmorp @ schmorpel @slrpnk.net
Posts
8
Comments
293
Joined
2 yr. ago
Lots of good advice here already, especially regarding IFS, which is a therapy approach that works with splitting one's inner monologue into a conversation between different voices.
Since a lot of commenters seem to equate inner voices with schizophrenia or psychosis I'd like to let you (and them) know it's not that unusual to have inner voices with different personalities! I found my inner voices very helpful to deal with my mental challenges and this never turned into anything uncontrollable. I had a similar very critical inner voice which I then recognized as mainly being my mother's way of criticizing me - even after I went no contact with mom, she was still occupying space in my head telling me everything I did wrong.
The way out was really simple, CBT-based: a therapist reminded me to be kind to myself and I just practised - like giving myself an inner hug every time I used the unkind voice and remembering that kindness to myself is important (not beating myself up for being unkind!), and to avoid self-deprecating humour. It just took some time, maybe a year, and now I see clear improvements. The voice is pretty much gone. At the moment I have no need to separate into different voices and feel quite at home within myself. Hope you get there soon, you seem a be on a good path towards it!