FeelingGoodWithSofy

Hello guys! A new mental-health article is up now! ❤️

In this article, I discuss negative and positive self-talk, the impact it can have on your mental wellbeing, and I’ll share some of my personal stories, along with motivational insights and tips!❤️

Trigger warning: If you are currently struggling with your own mental-health, this article might be difficult to read. However, it also provides motivational content, that could be helpful for your own recovery journey. The decision to continue reading is entirely yours!❤️❤️

The way we speak to ourselves not only influences how we feel but also influences how we act in our daily life.

What is negative self-talk?

Essentially, negative self-talk is that harsh inner voice which focuses on everything we’ve done wrong. It fills our minds with discouraging, mean, and often unfair thoughts.

We all have moments of self-doubt, but the real issue arises when this becomes a constant pattern in your life— a negative soundtrack in your head telling you that you are not enough. As a result it can seriously harm your mental-health and personal growth.

The impact of negative self-talk

As I mentioned just above, constantly telling yourself harsh, discouraging things can truly have a negative impact on your mental wellbeing.

Emotional impact: Being unkind to yourself can lead to depression, low self-esteem and an increase in anxiety, having a significant emotional impact on your life.

Behavioral impact: Beyond its emotional toll, a constant negative inner voice can also lead to negative behaviors such as procrastination, social withdrawal, and the avoidance of new opportunities.

Physical impact: It’s easy to think of negative self-talk as a purely mental issue, but it can actually take a serious toll on your physical health. When you are constantly putting yourself down, your body goes into a state of stress, which can lead to a range of negative physical effects.

Let’s look at an example…

“I feel I’m not doing enough, I feel I’m constantly making mistakes and not making any particular progress. I hate myself for being so clumsy with work stuff and in other activities too. I just feel too embarrassed to go and meet a friend, she’ll probably notice the negativity in me; I’ll text her saying I cannot come.”

These distorted thoughts could likely lead to procrastination, and at a certain point, your entire body will feel the burden you carry. Your doctor may notice a spike in your cortisol stress levels, and your immune system might weaken. In turn, you may also begin to struggle with depression and other mental disorders.

There is help❤️

Negative self-talk could unfortunately also lead to self-destruction if you do not seek the right help and support.

Know that you are not alone in this fight if you also battle with self-doubt, negative self-talk. Please, never be afraid to ask for help. Remember, asking for help is a sign of resilience, hope, and true strength.❤️

Like many of you, I have also struggled with negative self-talk. It’s better now, but I can still be harsh on myself. It’s an ongoing, difficult process where I learn, make mistakes, and grow.❤️

Sharing a bit of my story…❤️

I have been insecure, highly sensitive from a very young age. I struggled all through school both academically speaking and with making friends. I was the shy one, as many in school have pointed out.

Raw, honest moments…

“For example, struggling so much with homework—also because of my specific learning disorders—I slowly began to lose so much confidence in myself.”

When I was six or seven, whenever I made mistakes with my homework, I would tell my mom, or myself, how stupid I was. After a fight with mom, feeling so guilty for making her upset, I would write self-loathing letters telling her how sorry I was and how meaningless I felt.

Later on, at high-school, the voice in my head telling me I was not doing enough grew stronger. Just hearing a professor tell another classmate how well they did on a test could really crush me and I would find myself feeling bad and not good enough.

Developing slowly severe stress…

Being so hard on myself for many years led to a number of negative things. I developed depression which caused me to lose so much hope within myself. Anxiety also became a problem for my wellbeing. At 13 years old, I slowly began to isolate myself from others. I remember the summer after finishing middle school; I did not meet with anyone my age even once.

Mindfulness over perfection❤️

In the last couple of years I’ve been diving into mindfulness, positive self-talk over perfection, being kinder and more loving towards myself.❤️

Going to therapy and having my family’s support has been and still is an important, steadfast support.❤️

I can still be hard on myself, sometimes I need the help of my therapist or loved ones to help me through a difficult situation. Remember there is nothing wrong to have external support.❤️

Learning to love yourself, talking kindly to yourself is for many an ongoing process.

I would also recommend being more mindful of yourself. Do not rush to feel better; healing takes time. Give yourself permission to heal slowly, as there is nothing wrong with that.❤️

See it as an opportunity to rediscover yourself. Put meaningful affirmations around your home or room and repeat those affirmations to yourself. Practice self-love meditations and deep breathing exercises. These are just some examples of the things that I do to calm myself down from anxiety or when I feel unmotivated and sad.

The way you talk to yourself is a powerful gesture. Do not take it for granted. Think as if you would talk to a good friend 🙂

Much Love and Light ❤️✨

Sofia Lena😊

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