That nagging, pessimistic voice inside your head that takes merciless moral and performance evaluations of everything you think, do or say is the voice of your internal critic. Often clothed with a self-righteous attitude, the internal critic speaks with authority, as if it knows what is best for us to think, say or do in any given moment. Your internal critic is often created from your parents' internal critics, your genealogy and your own expectations of human excellence or perfection. The result is a persona who knows uour weaknesses and fears all too well, and who can use your failings and mistakes to make you feel very bad about who you are. It usually has an opinion, often critical and brutally honest.
Some people have internal critics that work overtime.
The result is a very low self-esteem and a life with much inner turmoil, fear and anguish. Smokers and dippers alike have used tobacco to tame an overactive critic. Nicotine is an effective stimulant drug that can also work like a depressant in heavy doses. This is one of the ways that your tobacco habit can be so psychologically addicting. If your internal critic is very active, and you are experiencing a relapse cycle and frequent strong cravings for tobacco, it can weaken your motivation and determination to quit.