What Is the Role of Self-Criticism in Depression?

We all have moments when we let negative thoughts about ourselves take over. You might sometimes struggle with feelings of failure or think you don’t “measure up” somehow. As the old saying goes, you are your own worst enemy.

However, there’s a difference between the occasional self-deprecating thought and consistent self-criticism. 

Not only can self-criticism cause problems in your professional and personal lives, but it can cause you to lose hope and feel helpless. It’s also often considered a strong factor in depression, playing a major role in making your symptoms worse. 

Let’s take a closer look at that role and what you can do if you struggle with self-criticism. 

What Does Self-Criticism Look Like?

Do you often feel a sense of sadness and shame? Maybe you have difficulty letting go of even small mistakes, and you get “stuck” on your failures. Self-criticism looks slightly different for everyone, but at its root, it’s the idea that you either aren’t good enough or you can’t do anything right.

Some examples of self-criticism include thinking you’re ugly, a failure, or assuming you don’t deserve good things in your life. It’s not uncommon for self-critical people to struggle in relationships because they think they aren’t good enough for their partner. Or, you might avoid taking risks or trying new things because you already believe you’ll fail.

Self-critical people also often compare themselves to others in unhealthy ways. This has become even more problematic in the age of social media, where it’s easy to “scroll” and see a highlight reel of everyone else’s lives. 

How Are Self-Criticism and Depression Linked?

Self-criticism is a strong risk factor for depression. When you’re constantly focused on your failures and thinking you don’t measure up, you will struggle with helplessness and hopelessness. You might not see your value or worth, so finding value in your life will be harder.

Those feelings of hopelessness can quickly turn into depression. It can also be a cyclical problem. Self-criticism can lead to depression, but it’s also common for people dealing with depression to be self-critical. 

What Causes Self-Criticism?

There’s no one root cause when it comes to self-criticism. It may have originated in your childhood. The relationships you develop early with friends, family, and caregivers can shape how you see yourself. If you had parents who didn’t give you the affection you needed, or even if you dealt with abuse, you’re more likely to be self-critical as an adult.

Self-criticism can also stem from issues that happen in your adult life, like an emotionally abusive relationship. If someone tells you often enough that you’re worthless or a failure, you’re going to start to believe them. Again, you’ll become your own worst enemy. 

What Can You Do?

There’s no doubt that self-criticism can make your depression worse. It might even hinder your motivation to get the help you need because you feel like you don’t deserve it. 

You do. 

Both issues need to be addressed, and it can be a bit tricky to separate them. However, learning what triggered your self-criticism is the most important place to start. When you understand why you feel so negative about yourself, you can work through the pain of the past to rediscover your worth.

As you start to see that you have value and you’re not a failure, you’re more likely to respond to treatment for depression. 

You don’t have to live the rest of your life feeling hopeless or hating yourself. Self-criticism doesn’t have to take over your thoughts. Don’t hesitate to get the help you deserve, and you’ll start to experience freedom from your own negative thoughts. Reach out to us to learn more about depression therapy.