ABC Radio
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Controlling the chatter in your head
Controlling the chatter in your head
Controlling the chatter in your head
Saturday 5th February 2022
Psychologist Ethan Cross shares insights on controlling harmful inner chatter and offers practical strategies for mental peace.
29 minutes
Inspiring
Informative
Hopeful
Engaging
Educational
About this podcast
Author:
ABC Radio
Overview:
Categories:
Mindfulness & Emotional Wellbeing
Mindful Recovery
Sexual Stigmas & Myths
Mindfulness & Technology in Health
Parenting & Children
Links:
Visit site
Episodes:
499 (View all)
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!Silencing Your Inner Critic: Strategies from Ethan Cross
Episode Overview
- Inner voice helps with memory and planning but can become harmful chatter.
- Chatter differs from hearing voices linked to mental illness.
- Simone Biles' Olympic 'twisties' exemplify performance-impacting chatter.
- Distance self-talk uses names and pronouns to shift perspective.
- Rituals provide control and social connection, aiding mental clarity.
"If you experience chatter from time to time, congratulations, welcome to the human condition."
Ever wondered what it takes to silence that nagging voice in your head? In this riveting episode of 'All In The Mind', psychologist Ethan Cross shares his personal journey through the chaos of inner chatter and offers practical strategies to tame it. The episode kicks off with Cross recounting a bizarre moment in his life when his thoughts spiralled out of control after receiving a threatening letter.
His story is a testament to how our inner voice can sometimes veer into harmful territory, leaving us anxious and overwhelmed. Cross dives into the mechanics of the inner voice, explaining how it functions as part of our working memory system, helping us problem-solve and plan. But what happens when this voice morphs into incessant chatter? Cross categorises chatter as getting stuck in a negative thought loop, and distinguishes it from clinical symptoms like hearing voices due to mental illness.
Listeners will gain valuable insights into the real-world impacts of chatter, which can affect our performance, relationships, and even physical health. The episode highlights Simone Biles' experience with the 'twisties' during the Olympics as a striking example of how chatter can undermine even the greatest athletes. Cross introduces tools to manage chatter, including 'distance self-talk', where using your name and second-person pronouns can help shift perspective.
He also discusses 'temporal distancing' and rituals as methods to regain control over your mind. The conversation wraps up with Cross's hopeful outlook, emphasising that while there's no magic cure for chatter, various strategies can effectively manage it. Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? Dive into this enlightening episode and discover strategies to quieten your inner critic. How do you manage your own chatter?