I just want to pull out a gem that @LilyMop said yesterday that I thought was totally right on and a great positive counteracting thought when we have negative thoughts intruding in our heads or people giving us criticism about our mental health.

It was along the lines of "if you wouldn't take advice from them then why would you take their criticism?"

It aligns with what I've said often "always consider the source."

Who is giving us this negative feedback? Should they be trusted? For example, the critic in my head is my abusive biological father. And not always just in my head either - although I haven't had direct communication with him in a full year, and only then because my uncle had passed away. So, in my case, why would I, for one second, give anything my abusive, monster of a father any credibility in any comment regarding me or my life?

I've gotten a lot better about silencing his voice. But I thought Lilymop's comment on another thread deserved to be featured as a great positive coping thought.

The next time someone says something that upsets me, I will ask myself "would I even consider this person's advice or opinion?" I think it's likely that their advice or opinions, and therefore criticism, would be totally irrelevant to me, and easier to shake off.

Seesaw