Lifestyle

The inner critic is the internal voice that judges, criticises or questions us. It often tells us we're not good enough, clever enough, successful enough or worthy enough.

Self-compassion means responding to ourselves with the same understanding, encouragement and care that we would naturally offer someone we love. It's about recognising that making mistakes, struggling and feeling overwhelmed are all part of being human

Attachment theory was first developed by psychiatrist and psychoanalyst John Bowlby, who recognised that the relationships we experience in early childhood play an important role in shaping how safe and secure we feel in the world.