Hi, justmom. I like the saying on the cloth carry bag I once had, "If you are being run out of town, get in front and make it look like a parade."

If you can't get the voice(s) to shut up; listen and talk back to them My voices never said anything very intelligent, "You're so dumb" is a dumb thing to say? "Oh, yeah? How would you know I'm dumb if you're inside my head and thus part of me? I at least have this great body to walk around in and see the outside of the world and think dumb thoughts like you with!" should pretty much quiet that one? Out talk it with self help and self esteem talk. Get to know yourself, ask the voice why it thinks you are dumb, why it is saying mean things, why it is worried about the future when it's not the future yet, why that person over there who doesn't know you would have the time or take the effort to "hate" you or object to what you are doing?

Two can play that game and your ability to think about good things to say and ways to out counter the bad thoughts is greater than your unconscious' ability to "think". It can just complain and make up generic, "Don't do that, it's dangerous/you're too stupid/you won't like it" sorts of thoughts that aren't very specific. If you ask them to elaborate or give examples; most of what they have to say falls short of being able to.

Eventually, you don't have to "clear" your mind, it doesn't bother with the negative stuff anymore because you have increased experience and self esteem so the negatives don't bother to bother you