@Former-Member How we see view and speak to ourselves  is crucial, for all of us. The recovery journey is going to be more challenging if we hold on to a fixed view of ourselves e.g., I am unloveable.

Learning to compassionately understand ourselves, both our past and current experiences, is also vital in shifting things. It allows us to understand ourselves as people who have had particular experiences, in a particular context, and are shaped by this. That we have particular thoughts, feelings, desires, etc, that drive our actions, just like any other person. Rather than viewing ourselves in certain terms such as bad, worthless, needy, unloveable.

Exploring your self-perception is something that psychotherapy can help with.