It’s high time that any stigma about talking to ourselves is dropped!

Done in the right way – honestly and balanced – talking to ourselves can be a key to “waking up”; see it like a car key starting up the engine. I believe that it is a healthy tool to utilise.

This is because many of us who endure PTSD or depression are “half asleep” – we run the majority of our days on autopilot, frequently forgetting to live in the moment. Thinking about making decisions in this cloudy state of mind can be extremely difficult, and only grows unhelpful anxieties.

Yet, when we talk nicely to ourselves, it can be enormously helpful. It helps give us traction, declutter our heads, and keeps us present. It also helps to keep anxiety at bay, or manage it better. I think of it like a football coach being on the pitch, as opposed to managing from the stalls.

When you start talking to yourself, do it aloud, and make it a regular habit.

To start you thinking, here’s an example:

“Right Emma, you’ve lost most of your clients due to COVID-19, and you are nearly 52. But you are a clever lady, and even though it feels scary, you’ve simply got to take action to find replacement work”.

Try applying this to your daily agenda. You don’t have to talk aloud to yourselves in public – instead simply use a mirror.

When we address ourselves directly, it’s essential to address ourselves positively – and the more you practise, the more clearer your thoughts will become.