Thanks for sharing. I do this kind of thinking also!

I have been reading "Learned Optimism" by Martin Seligman, and learning a lot from it. Dr. Seligman theorizes that we are assuming our mistakes (including I suppose mistakes real or imagined that others point out, ie. criticism) are Personal (all our fault), Pervasive (they affect lots of things) and Permanent (they will have long lasting consequences). "Nothing I do will ever be good enough for anyone" seems to fit this model. The unfortunate consequence of this thinking habit is that eventually we feel helpless to do anything to change the situation, and get into states of emotional shutdown and passivity. This triggers depression (Seligman goes so far as to theorize that IS depression). The whole effect is called Learned Helplessness.

I am still reading the book (at first I didn't "get" it but it makes sense after I slept on it) and can't wait to see how the author suggests CHANGING this way of thinking. Maybe it will be helpful to you too.

Best of luck .. to us both!

P.S.: I notice some people pleasing in there also ... "...for anyone." We don't like to disappoint others and have become very afraid of doing so, I think.