T says I Beat Myself Up

My T has continuously told me two things lately. One is that I have layers, like an onion. I have layers of emotions, feelings, depression, anxiety, grief, happiness etc. Take a layer away and a completely new different layer shows. Second is that I am way too hard on myself. I am constantly degrading myself with my own thoughts, opinions, beliefs, feelings and things I do. She told me I beat myself up and that the only way to get better is to change my thoughts. Easier said than done. Sadly, I think I've gotten use to wallowing in my own self pity, unhappiness and my negative thoughts.

GenCat, my T says I engage in "abusive self blame" a lot. It is something we just keep slowly working on, and he keeps trying to teach me to reframe my thoughts about myself in a less negative way, and to see my own actions "in context." I feel for you. I don't think there are any easy answers.

I've been working on this for over 7 years now. It hasn't gotten easier so far, but I'm not giving up. Don't give up.

Going through this issue right now too. T says I'm not a friend to myself and it worries him. Going to ask him next session how one is their own friend.

There you go again The response you want to give yourself, whether you feel it or not is, "OMG! I'll have to figure out how to stop that." You aren't being part of Yourself but looking on and saying, "Oh, that poor GenCat, it's so sad, did you hear about her?. . ."

GenCat, I read this article today and thought of this thread; http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...self-others-do

LOL. I know, I need to stop looking down at myself. Its just hard not to. Never been one to put self on pedestal.

My T has also told me I'm too hard on myself, it was good for me to hear, when she said it, it opened my eyes to why I'm not happy...we're still working on it though, I go in and out of feeling frustrated with it. I just have to remind myself to stay in the moment.