What is it called when you talk bad about yourself?

Author: Prof. Lizzie Parisian II  |  Last update: Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Negative self-talk is when you are very critical of yourself, focusing on the bad. Your self-talk affects your mental health and how you face each day. You can stop negative self-talk by being aware of it and by challenging and replacing those thoughts with positive ones.

What is the word for talking bad about yourself?

“Self-deprecating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-deprecating.

What is it called when someone talks bad about themselves?

Negative self-talk refers to the automatic, often subconscious stream of thoughts that criticize or belittle oneself. It's like having an internal critic that constantly points out your faults, mistakes, and short-comings.

What does it mean when you talk bad about yourself?

Putting yourself down is often referred to as self-deprecation. It involves making negative comments about oneself, which can manifest as humor or criticism. While it can sometimes be used playfully, frequent self-deprecation can indicate low self-esteem or self-worth.

What is it called when you feel bad about yourself?

If you're completely focused on feeling bad about your own problems and complaints, you're feeling self-pity. Your self-pity can make it hard to appreciate that other people face more serious troubles than you do.

Is it normal to talk to yourself?

What's the word for making you feel bad about yourself?

“Self-pity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-pity.

What causes negative self-talk?

For some, these patterns might stem from childhood experience where they never felt good enough. For others, the root could be societal norms and expectations. Peer pressure, past failures, or emotional scars from specific incidents can all play a part in causing negative self-talk.

Is negative self-talk part of ADHD?

It's only natural that over time, feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, and self-blame may creep in. The negative self-talk that results from these struggles can lead to a vicious cycle of shame and guilt, making it even more challenging for those with ADHD to manage their condition effectively.

What to say when someone talks bad about themselves?

Ways to respond when someone is too hard on themselves
  • Be honest when self-deprecation makes you uncomfortable. ...
  • Provide evidence against the self deprecating comment. ...
  • Try this thing to ask an insecure person. ...
  • Offer up a smaller box. ...
  • Focus on the good stuff! ...
  • Ask if there is something deeper going on.

What is dysfunctional self-talk?

People with depression and anxiety frequently experience destructive and dysfunctional self-talk; the internal chatter they hear may be incessant and overly critical. Overwhelmed by the negativity, they can wallow in painful rumination, attacking themselves ceaselessly.

What do you call a person who always thinks negative?

Pessimistic describes the state of mind of someone who always expects the worst. A pessimistic attitude isn't very hopeful, shows little optimism, and can be a downer for everyone else.

What is it called when someone belittles themselves?

Self-deprecation is the act of reprimanding oneself by belittling, undervaluing, disparaging oneself, or being excessively modest. It can be used as a way to make complaints, express modesty, invoke optimal reactions or add humour. It may also be used as a way for individuals to appear more likable and agreeable.

What is negative self-talk called?

In psychology, we call them Cognitive Distortions because they're usually unrealistic or inaccurate explanations for what's going on in our lives that lead to unnecessarily negative emotions and moods. A couple points to keep in mind as you read: There's a lot of overlap between the cognitive distortions.

What is a word for nasty gossip?

Definitions of malicious gossip. noun. disgraceful gossip about the private lives of other people. synonyms: dirt, scandal. comment, gossip, scuttlebutt.

What does "altruistic" mean?

: having or showing an unselfish concern for the welfare of others. altruistic acts/motives. a generous and altruistic person.

What is talking bad about yourself called?

Negative self-talk is when you are very critical of yourself, focusing on the bad. Your self-talk affects your mental health and how you face each day. You can stop negative self-talk by being aware of it and by challenging and replacing those thoughts with positive ones.

How to handle family members who talk behind your back?

Steps
  1. Do nothing. Though you may be tempted to act out or confront the person, sometimes the best response is to ignore gossip. ...
  2. Treat them with kindness. ...
  3. Set limits with gossipers. ...
  4. Verify the motives of the messenger. ...
  5. Don't engage in gossip. ...
  6. Talk to someone in authority.

Why do I talk bad about myself?

Negative self-talk can come from a place of depression, low self-confidence, and anxiety and be part of a more significant mental health concern. However, you may also have habits that are causing negative self-talk. Some of these habits include: Not addressing relationship problems.

What is looping in ADHD?

If you're living with ADHD, you probably know about overthinking—when your thoughts get caught in a loop, and you go over and over the same thoughts without feeling better or finding a resolution.

How damaging is negative self-talk?

It may worsen anxiety or depression.

Plus, it can cause you to shrink back from your support systems. “People engaging in harmful negative self-talk are much more likely to pull back and isolate themselves,” explains Dr. Alexander. This can become a big risk factor for depression and anxiety, even suicide.”

Do people with ADHD cry easily?

Examples of Emotional Dysregulation

Here are some examples of what emotional dysregulation in ADHD might look like: Experiencing intense emotions, like anger outbursts or high anxiety. Crying in response to a variety of feelings, even happiness. Struggling to take your focus away from your emotions.

What are the three C's of negative self-talk?

So, to recap - Catch it, Check it, Change it.

What does the Bible say about negative self-talk?

“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (Proverbs 4:23 GNT). Long before psychology came around, God said your thoughts determine your feelings and your feelings determine your actions. Our minds are really an amazing creation.

Why do I talk to myself like I'm talking to someone else in my head?

1 Self-talk is common, and experts believe talking to yourself outloud can help you process your thoughts in a healthy, productive way. Self-talk can also be related to problems like stress, anxiety, or trauma.

Previous article
Why is dryer vent aluminum?
Next article
How do you get the smell of human urine out of upholstery?