Drink Less Booze. Live How You Choose.
Are you sober curious, a mindful drinker or simply looking to change your relationship with alcohol? Drink Less Booze. Live How You Choose is here to help you take a more intentional, values-based approach to alcohol.
Join Dr Fiona Dowman, a HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist, as she shares expert, evidence-based tools grounded in mindfulness to help you drink less—one manageable step at a time. Understand the psychology behind why you drink more than you want to, and tackle those pesky thoughts, cravings and difficult emotions that keep you stuck in old habits . This is the mental health podcast that helps you take control of your drinking and focus on what truly matters.
Drink Less Booze. Live How You Choose.
Taming the Inner Critic: Why Harsh Self-Talk Isn’t Helping You Drink Less. Ep.9
Episode Title:
Taming the Inner Critic: Why Harsh Self-Talk Isn’t Helping You Drink Less
Hi, I’m Dr Fiona Dowman, a qualified Clinical Psychologist in the UK.
Episode Summary:
The voice in your head that tells you you’re failing, you should be doing better, or you’ve messed up again—that’s your inner critic. And if you’re trying to change your drinking, that voice can feel especially loud.
In this episode, I talk about how the inner critic shows up, why it’s so common when we’re trying to make a meaningful change, and why beating ourselves up rarely leads to real progress. I share a metaphor (involving a slightly stubborn donkey!) that helps explain how self-compassion—rather than self-criticism—can actually fuel long-term motivation and make habit change more sustainable.
If you’ve ever found yourself thinking why can’t I just stop? or I should know better by now, this episode is for you.
What You’ll Learn:
- What the inner critic sounds like—and why it’s often loudest at night
- Why self-criticism feels familiar, but often backfires
- A helpful metaphor (donkey included!) to reframe how you motivate yourself
- How self-compassion helps build resilience and lasting change
- A simple question you can ask to respond to yourself more kindly
🔗 Resources I Mention:
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📬 Got thoughts about this episode or want to share your experience with the inner critic?
Drop me a message at: info@purplebridgepsychology.co.uk
Or find me on Instagram: @purplebridgepsychology
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As always, the advice in this podcast is not a substitute for personalised support. If you're concerned about physical dependence on alcohol, please speak to your GP or local alcohol service.
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