Most of us talk to ourselves in ways we’d never talk to a mate. You miss a deadline—“you’re useless.” You stumble—“why bother?” That inner critic fuels self doubt, drains your emotional well-being, and feeds the cycle of self-sabotage.

In this episode of Headstraight, we strip away the myth that harshness builds resilience. You’ll hear straight talk on how criticism, guilt, and guilt trips actually wreck teen mental health and stop young adults from making better choices. We’ll show you how to swap toxic self-talk for grounded support, so you can build real self esteem, self reliance, and confidence without faking it.

We’ll dive into practical tools—like reframing your scripts, daily check-ins, and the “voice swap” technique—that help you feel safe, reset after setbacks, and create habits that reinforce growth instead of shame.

If you’re ready for real talk mental health that teaches you how to back yourself, this episode is the blueprint for becoming your own biggest ally—even on the days when your critic is loudest.

Want the Cheat Sheet? Click the Link or copy and paste the following into your browser:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mgI4GWLJmfHzx-3fDZ_WlluEpW82_zKQ/edit?usp=sharing

Want to get involved?
I’d love to hear from you:

• Send me a message → headstraight.co.uk/contact
• Leave me a voice note → headstraight.co.uk/voicemail
• Share your feedback by leaving a review (it helps more young people find the podcast) → headstraight.co.uk/reviews/new

Explore more from Headstraight:

• Read the blog version of every episode, packed with extra insights on self-sabotage, motivation, resilience, and mental health → headstraight.co.uk/blog
• Find out more about me, the host, and why I started this podcast → headstraight.co.uk/about

Need support right now?
If you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or in crisis, visit our Resources page
for helplines, mental health services, and support options available in the UK and across the world.

Click here to view the episode transcript.