Unkind Mind

The Neuroscience of Why Women Are So Hard on Themselves―and How to Quiet Your Inner Critic for Good

By: Betsy Holmberg PhD

Narrated by: Sharmila Devar

Does it ever feel like there's a hypercritical, negative voice inside your head, telling you that you aren't good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, or worthy of success or love? Negative self-talk is all too common, especially for women. This inner critic originally served an important evolutionary purpose—to ensure survival. The problem is, this voice can be difficult to "switch off," leading to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. So, how can you move past negative self-talk and start living with confidence?

Written by a psychologist and expert in negative thinking, this book shines a light on where your hypercritical inner voice comes from—a deeply rooted survival mechanism in the brain called the default mode network (DMN). Using powerful skills drawn from neuroscience, you'll learn how to flip the switch on your unkind mind, so you can move past self-critical thoughts, increase self-compassion, and decrease feelings of shame, guilt, regret, and inadequacy.

Once you understand where your inner critic comes from, you'll feel more empowered to tune it out, focus on your true inner voice instead, and get back to living your life with all the courage and confidence needed to thrive. This book will help guide you, step by step.

©2025 Betsy Holmberg (P)2025 Tantor Media