Quiet The Inner Critic and Rise Above Anxiety. With Dr. Ellen Hendriksen. Part one.

Inner Critic

The inner critic, a universal aspect of human psychology, serves an evolutionary purpose by helping us align with social norms. Ellen Hendriksen explains that while it can be adaptive, it becomes problematic when it leads to distress or impairment, signaling the onset of social anxiety 1. She highlights that the inner critic's voice can become too loud, crossing thresholds of distress and impairment, which can hinder our ability to live fulfilling lives 1.

The inner critic exists evolutionarily to keep us in line. We're social animals. And I like to say that we doubt ourselves in order to check ourselves.

--- Ellen Hendriksen

Patricia Karpas adds that thoughts are real but not always true, emphasizing the need to challenge the inner rulebook driven by perfectionism 2.

   

Perfectionism

Perfectionism often exacerbates social anxiety by imposing high, rigid, and arbitrary standards. Ellen Hendriksen notes that these standards can stem from upbringing in environments that value perfectionism, leading to a narrow view of acceptable behavior 3. She advises questioning the rigidity of these standards and embracing flexibility to prevent them from hindering personal growth and relationships 4.

The definition of clinical perfectionism is that striving to meet those high, rigid and arbitrary standards is getting in the way of their life.

--- Ellen Hendriksen

Hendriksen suggests putting action before motivation, as taking steps can often lead to the motivation needed to continue, thus reducing the pressure of perfectionism 5.