Any tips on dealing with constant criticism?

[Outtheforest]

Hi all
I am and always have been very sensitive to criticism, I don't get defensive or argue back etc instead it just leaves me feeling very down and worthless/ sneaking off to cry.
I love my job but my boss is a very critical person, nothing is good enough. I managed fine while in the office as generally the mood is good and criticism was soon forgotten. However I've been working from home for 2 months and it's starting to really get me down. I'm trying very hard not to take it personally but am wondering if anyone has any tips
Should also mention I'm pretty sure I do my job well despite the constant criticism at reviews/big meetings etc I'm told I'm doing well they're happy with my performance etc . It just seems his natural response is to find fault in everything. E.g. I write a document, he has to approve no comment on the content but a petty email complaining I should've laid it out different. Do it differently next time another email about I should've done it the original way etc

My boss does this.. it has to be done her way but it's only after the event that this comes to light and I should have done this, that or the other...

Is the way you did it actually wrong or just not how your boss would have done it? If the latter, just remember they're a control freak and you haven't screwed up, so forget it move on nothing to see here.

I had a boss like this, in the end in a work review I asked them to clarify what they wanted by email, as was getting mixed messages. Not an easy conversation but they listened and it did change.

Yes its definitely a case of his way and only his way. The work is never wrong per say its things like I'll produce a huge report and he will want one section before another because that's the way he would do it, next time I make a similar report I do it that way and he decides actually it should be a third way. Or I write a sentence he writes a different sentence saying the exact same thing just different. It's very rarely about the content of my work my technical stuff is always correct (never praised but never edited) he just only likes thing he has written.

I work with someone like that, he has very particular ideas about how things should be done. I feel sorry for his staff - he will give vague instructions and then criticise and moan when they don’t “get it right”. I’m much more of the opinion that if the end result works then it doesn’t matter if it’s how I would do it.

Definitely ask for email instructions so you can point to that if the goalposts move.

It’s very wearing if you never get recognition for the good yet the bad is pointed out. Just this morning I’ve been in the situation of having to explain myself for not copying in a particular person on a specific email. There was absolutely zero effect from that, they had actually received several emails about the same thing and actually the work they wanted to know about had been done already (Thank goodness - would have been a calamity if we had waited for them to get their arse in gear). But instead of getting nice one hedgefund thank goodness you’re on top of It they’re bitching and whinging about one inconsequential email.