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Book

Unkind mind : the neuroscience of why women are so hard on themselves--and how to quiet your inner critic for good

Call Number

  • 158.1082 H7478 (CEN)

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Publication Information

Oakland, CA : New Harbinger Publications, Inc., [2025]

Physical Description

141 pages ; 23 cm

Summary

Is there an unrelenting hypercritical voice inside your head, constantly telling you that you aren't smart enough, attractive enough, successful enough, or worthy of love? Have you ever asked yourself why this harsh, judgmental voice is so damn ruthless? Negative self-talk is all too common for women. After all, we're expected to be perfect, look perfect, and "do it all" with a smile. So, how can you stop holding yourself to unreasonable standards, turn the volume down on your unkind mind, and give yourself a little self-love and acceptance instead? This unflinching guide shines a light on why women are the hardest on themselves, and where this merciless inner critic comes from--an evolutionary mechanism in our brains called the default mode network (DMN). Using powerful and practical skills drawn from cutting-edge neuroscience, you'll learn how to flip the switch on these toxic self-critical thoughts, move past the "not good enough" mentality standing between you and the happiness you deserve, and supercharge your confidence and self-compassion!

Contents

  • Introduction
  • Part 1: The science behind your inner critic. Why you are so hard on yourself
  • What your self-talk sounds like
  • Turning off your self-talk
  • Part 2: Help! I can't get it to stop! The DMN under stress
  • The tired DMN
  • The emotional DMN
  • Part 3: Moving forward as your authentic self. Reconnecting with your true self
  • Staying true to yourself in relationships
  • Scrolling and trolling: Navigating social media
  • Healing in therapy and beyond
  • Conclusion
  • Acknowledgments
  • Bibliography.

Subjects