Dawn Walton, MSc.Psych,DipCHyp,MNLP,MBPsS

Do you hear voices? I do. 

That doesn't make me mad, it is actually fairly normal. 

My voices tell me to eat stuff I shouldn't. At their worst they used to tell me I was useless at everything I did. Luckily those voices have been silenced now. 

But others still remain. Particularly the ones around food. 

You see, whenever we are struggling (which we all are in some way shape or form) we often find there is a Negative Voice speaking away to us:

Why did you just light up that cigarette when you've just spent the last 10 minutes coughing. You know it will kill you don't you?

You ate those crisps this morning, your diet is already shot so why not eat that cake now

I can't believe you are afraid of that spider. What is wrong with you. You look really pathetic running away from that.

You're useless. You can't get anything right. No wonder you have no friends. 

Is there anything we can do about it? Actually, yes. There are lots of things. 

I wonder how convincing the "you're useless" voice would be if it wasn't you or someone you know saying it. What if it was Donald Duck, or Count Duckula, or someone/something else with a voice that made you smile. Any sort of comedy voice. Would you really listen to it as much then?

What about the voice you hear when you have a cigarette? Would it have more of an impact if it was a clear, crisp voice with no rasping breath? Or would it be better if it couldn't speak because every time it did it coughed up a big black and brown lump of tar?

So maybe next time you hear voices, instead of worrying if you are mad, try changing the voice and see what happens. 

Changing the voice is brilliant at changing your behaviour and your feelings. If you want help to get to the root of the problem then drop an email to Dawn@Thinkitchangeit.com and I will help you reframe whatever the issue is once and for all (don't worry, you can still imagine funny voices if you want to!)