Self-recriminating

Self-recriminating describes the act of blaming or criticizing oneself, often excessively or harshly, for one's actions, failures, or shortcomings. It involves a process of self-condemnation and can manifest in feelings of guilt, regret, and low self-esteem. Individuals engaging in self-recrimination often dwell on past mistakes and may struggle to forgive themselves. This inner critic can be a significant barrier to personal growth and well-being, preventing one from moving forward and learning from experiences. The focus is inward, judging one's own conduct. Excessive self-recrimination can be linked to perfectionism, anxiety, and depression.

Self-recriminating meaning with examples

• After the project failed, Mark engaged in relentless self-recriminating thoughts, constantly berating himself for every decision he made, despite his team's shared responsibilities. This dampened his spirit significantly. He struggled to see any positive aspects and considered abandoning everything due to self-condemnation.
• Sarah spent the entire weekend in self-recriminating reflection, replaying the disastrous conversation with her friend in her head, dissecting every word she said and blaming herself for the fallout. Regret consumed her, preventing her from enjoying anything and focusing on the fallout.
• Even though the accident was unavoidable, John was caught in a cycle of self-recriminating emotions, fixating on what he 'could have' done differently. He blamed his minor mistakes. The guilt was all consuming. He found himself unable to cope and needing professional help to move forward.
• The athlete, despite achieving a personal best, was filled with self-recriminating feelings, fixating on a minor error during the competition and feeling it overshadowed his success. He constantly beat himself up mentally and physically, to the detriment of his enjoyment.
• Following a minor mistake at work, Emily started a pattern of self-recriminating comments, constantly apologizing and minimizing her achievements. This behavior was taking a huge toll on her performance and was impacting her career.