Rewiring the Brain: How to Break Free from Negative Self-Talk

Hey friend! Ever spiral into negative self-talk and wonder why your brain just won’t chill? You're not alone—and you’re definitely not broken. In this episode of Adulting with Autism, I sit down with award-winning psychologist Dr. Betsy Holmberg, author of the upcoming book The Unkind Mind (releasing June 1 from New Harbinger Publications).

But this isn’t your typical therapy chat. Betsy’s story starts with her own depression after divorce—and a turning point that didn’t come from traditional talk therapy, but from neuroscience. 🔬

What she discovered changed everything: that our harsh inner critic isn’t us—it’s our Default Mode Network (DMN). And when we learn how to work with our brain instead of against it? That’s where healing really begins.

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🧠 In this episode, we unpack:

• What the DMN is and how it drives self-criticism, anxiety & overthinking

• Why affirmations don’t work (unless your Central Executive Network is activated)

• How passions, community, and purpose rewire our mental state

• Why social media + burnout jobs = peak inner critic activation

• Tools to manage your brain’s background noise & feel at peace again

Whether you’re dealing with ADHD, autism, anxiety, or just burnout from life, this episode will help you understand your brain—and take back your power.

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📚 Grab Betsy’s Book – The Unkind Mind (out June 1):
🔗 Pre-order on Amazon(affiliate link – helps support the show at no cost to you)
🌐 More from Betsy: https://www.betsyholmberg.com
📸 Follow her on Instagram: @betsyholmberg

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☕ Like what you hear? Support the show: Buy me a coffee
🎧 Listen on Podbean, Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube
🎁 Join our Discord community—1,000th member wins a $100 Visa + podcast merch!

💬 COMMENT: What’s your DMN’s favorite lie—and how are you rewriting it?
👍 LIKE and SHARE with someone who needs to stop believing their inner critic
🔔 FOLLOW for more real, science-backed convos on identity, healing, and neurodivergent growth

Until next time, keep unmasking, keep growing, and keep adulting. 💛

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