Os medos por trás da autocrítica

The critical voice rarely arises "out of nowhere." Behind it, there is usually fear. In Compassion-Focused Therapy, we understand that the human brain was shaped to detect threats and respond quickly to them. This system was fundamental to the survival of our species. The problem is that, throughout development, our brain also learns to treat emotional and social experiences as threats. And, in childhood, this makes even more sense. When we are young, we depend completely on our caregiving relationships. Being loved, accepted, approved of, and well-regarded by our parents or caregivers is not just "pleasant": it's a matter of security. For a child's brain, rejection, criticism, shame, abandonment, or disapproval can be experienced as profoundly threatening experiences. It is in this context that self-criticism often arises. The critical voice frequently emerges trying to protect us from significant relational pain: "Don't make mistakes." "Don't disappoint." "Don't be rejected." "Don't be a source of shame." “Try to be better before someone hurts you.” Therefore, combating self-criticism without understanding the fear behind it is usually insufficient. Before silencing the critical voice, perhaps the most important question is: What is it trying to protect its client from? #compassionfocusedtherapy #selfcompassion #psychotherapy #clinicalpsychology #selfcriticism