I definitely agree that negative self talk can affect very strongly how we feel about ourselves! I would definitely still keep saying affirmations though. I have heard from many friends that at first they wouldn't really believe the affirmations - but the more they say them, the more they become a daily habit, the more they seem to become believable. It's like eating liver every day. At first you might really hate it - but after a few weeks it's likely you at least sort of tolerate it