First sign of madness?

[Pootle]

I talk to myself...alot. It started about 6 years ago with insignificant mutterings like, "think I'll have something to eat" and has steadily escalated into full blown dialogue. For instance, if I am at home alone, I will quite happily talk out loud about whatever it is I am thinking about. It could be about an incident at work and how I feel about it, or plans for the weekend or whatever. What is a little scary is that when I am talking out loud, I often chuckle to myself or laugh as I'm recounting a funny incident to myself. If somebody were to overhear, they would think there was somebody else in the room and I was relaying a story to them. They would also think me quite insane. Furthermore, I've recently had to stop myself from "reflecting" out loud in public. Basically, I am vocal with my thoughts. But this can't be normal behavoir, am I going mad?

[KittyGlitter]

I think we all talk to ourselves in varying degrees. For example, a lot of people swear out loud whether someone is listening or not. Perhaps you find it comforting to talk to yourself? The fact that you are questioning your sanity, is probably a good sign that you aren't mad :o)

[Lou Knee]

if you are going mad, Pootle, then so am I and believe me we will not be short on company!!

just a thought.........try togs.org........being mad is deffo a pre-requisite!!

great name by the way.........twas the name my daughter gave to our first grandchild before he was born.

[smurfchops]

Yes don't worry, I think we all do it, especially as we get older ! I find myself doing it in supermarkets or shops and pretend I am singing if I think someone has overheard me !!

[rampart]

I think it is within the realms of normal. Right rampart?

[rampart]

Yes, right on.

[Drusilla]

Wear your mobile phones, hands free set at all times and everyone will assume you're a high powered business person. However, if your reflection makes the same assumption, you've got problems.

[joko]

its only a problem if you actually think that there is someone there and they are talking back to you.

i sometimes do it daft voices and accents!!

[WendyS]

Yes, I'm sure we all do it at times. Must be a sign that we're happy with our own company and conversation. Think it's also a sign that we're comfrotable engaging with ourselves when others arn't around. It's what we'd all be doing anyway if we found ourselves alone on a desert island. Guess it's when we start disagreeing with ourselves that the problem arises - deciding which part of our brain we're goiing to side with. Heaven help us if the left hand brain decides to vote Labour and the right hand side wants to vote Conservative - what do we do? Book ourselves in for a lobotomy ????

[tellboy]

As some in that probably is mad or at least seeing a shrink monthly I have never done that so be assured it must be normal.

[VINNY100_2]

They reckon the first sign of madness is a hair growing in the middle of your right hand....!!

The second sign of madness is looking for ...it(:)

[smudge]

I'm rolling up Vinny - thanks for that!

[smudge]

judiewudie - the times I've done just that - I think it's hilarious that no one realises!

[Dreaming]

Dont worry Pootle, I talk to myself all the time. And swear a lot especially when driving!

[smudge]

I even say "Pardon me" out loud when I burp & on my own!

[Buenchico]

Talking to one's self is often regarded as a sign of intelligence. It's also frequently associated with people who have greater control over their emotions than other people. (The latter trait is not always seen as positive because it can make people seem emotionally 'cold').

I talk to myself, in my mind, all the time. I always have done and can't imagine any other way of living. When I'm on my own I have conversations with myself (or sometimes with several different personalities within myself) out loud. This can, of course, be somewhat embarrassing when I've failed to notice that I'm not really alone!

Yes, other people do regard me as 'intelligent' and yes, they also regard me as emotionally cold. (I've never grieved for the loss of anyone, including my parents, and I can't even really understand the concept of 'grief' - it just seems stupid to me).

So, talking to yourself can indicate some positive characteristics and (by the standards of most people) some negative ones as well. Or maybe you're just going barmy after all!

For some further discussion, see here:
http://www.discussanything.com/forums/archive/index.php/ t-76466.html

Chris

[woofgang]

the only time to worry about talking to yourself is when you don't know what you are going to hear!!

[barender]

Been doing it all my life (over 50 years) and I'm not in a nut house yet!
I think it might also be partially a sign of having an organised mind, because I do it at work and at home. It's just a way of getting your thoughts straight without consciously realising it. Habit forming! I bet that when you're reading a book, you read either aloud or as if you were reading it aloud but in your head.

[Robinia]

lol woofgang!

Yes I mumble away too but the other morning I had a really good rant as I've not been feeling well & I find to grumble out loud sometimes helps & gets things into perspective. My little dog often looks around the room as if to say 'did someone just come in?'
I tend to meet some lovely people in supermarkets who are talking to themselves, I just can't stop myself butting into their 'conversations'!

[jimmer]

sometimes its the only way to get a decent conversation.

jim

[WoWo]

Buenchico/Chris... Wow thats almost exactly what I was going to say. People think I'm really intelligent and I think it's due to this behaviour, not necessarilly talking out loud but having an almost constant internal dialogue with myself, constantly questioning myself and the world around me, I'll discuss things are great length with myself.

I can also relate very much to being emotionally cold, it's not that I'm not emotional but for example when my Grand Mother recently passed away I didn't feel sad or emotional about it. I think in part thats because I'm comfortable with the concept of death, once you die thats it.