- June 8, 2019
- Mental disorders
- Tamila Gresko
Surely many people have had the opportunity to conduct an internal dialogue in their lives. What is self-talk called? The term “monologue” was coined for this phenomenon. There are several reasons why a person talks out loud to himself. You can conduct a monologue out of loneliness and dissatisfaction. For some, it’s just a habit that dates back to childhood. It’s good if your monologue is internal and no one hears it. However, there is also a category of people who, as a result of losing touch with reality, can animatedly talk out loud with an invisible interlocutor. Such individuals do not seem to see that the interlocutor is not nearby, and do not stop communicating. This article will discuss why a person talks to himself out loud and the reasons that contribute to this.
Experts' opinion
According to psychiatrists, talking to oneself is not uncommon. A person can have a conversation with an imaginary or real friend, as well as with God. Such an individual can tell an imaginary interlocutor about his feelings, experiences and thoughts.
If a person is of sound mind, then in front of strangers such a dialogue will be internal. When he is alone, thinking out loud can help to play out any upcoming situation or change in the individual’s head what was said before.
A man talks to himself: the opinion of a psychiatrist
What do psychiatrists think if a person talks to himself?
According to scientists, almost 70% of people talk to themselves out loud at least periodically.
Psychiatrists consider this behavior to be absolutely normal if it is not associated with any other symptoms. Everyone has conversations within themselves. If a person begins to speak out loud, he creates the appearance of a dialogue.
Scientists have conducted a number of experiments that have proven that conversations allow you to better cope with complex tasks. Each research participant was healthy and at the same time talking to himself.
There is even such a term in psychology as egocentric speech. It is directed towards oneself. It is not considered a mental disorder. By the way, people often use it for protection. When you talk to yourself, no bad thoughts come to your mind and you can concentrate on the most important things.
Diffidence
A person can be mentally healthy and still have a conversation with themselves. What is this monologue called? What significance does it have for a person? According to psychologists, such conversations are conducted by people in a state of nervous tension, namely before any important meeting. For example, before an interview, discussion or discussion. A person can also talk to himself if he wants to make a romantic proposal. In this way, the individual rehearses and pronounces what he plans to say in a given situation. He will ask himself questions that the interlocutor might presumably ask him, and then give answers to them. Despite the fact that in most cases real dialogues differ significantly from fictional ones, they give confidence.
Playing out fictional scenarios
There are individuals who like to dream. Of course, their real life may not be bad, but such people are not fully satisfied with it. In their conversation, they embody dreams that did not come true and wishful thinking. The situation may be real, something that happened in the past, or completely fictitious. According to psychiatrists, naive and easily suggestible people do this under the impression of feature films with unrealistic heroism and bizarre characters. It is the world's media that shapes this behavior in some individuals.
Children's habit
Very often children put life into their toys. For this reason, they can talk to them as if they were alive.
According to experts, for most children this stage is temporary. However, there are those who, having matured, do not get rid of this habit. It is noteworthy that it may change somewhat, but does not disappear completely.
Feeling empty
There are situations in people's lives when they feel unwanted and abandoned. If this condition drags on, then most likely the person will decide to commit suicide, since he no longer sees the point in anything. In addition, he loses sleep and suffers from insomnia. According to experts, in such a state a person feels his own internal emptiness and loss.
This explains why it is difficult for him to interact with others, even if they are friends or parents. As a result, he finds himself isolated and forced to start a conversation with himself. What is this condition called in medicine? What should be done in such a situation? If you or your loved ones have the above symptoms, you should seek help from a psychiatrist. Most likely you are depressed. If everything is left as it is, then most likely the matter will end in a mental disorder.
When you can't change the past
In every person's life there are situations with which he is dissatisfied. Of course, in the present nothing can be done about them. But not everyone is able to accept this fact, and therefore will periodically return to this topic and scroll through it in their head. The individual will look for new ways, pronounce what was not actually said. It is possible that in fact, in his imagination, he will slightly change the dialogue and will play the role of a fictitious interlocutor. According to psychologists, this allows a person to work through an irreversible situation and calm down for a while until he is faced with reality, and it “hits” him again. Dissatisfied with this state of affairs, the individual will again begin to conduct a fictitious conversation. In this case, experts do not consider self-talk as a sign of mental disorder.
When a person talks to himself: treatment
If a person talks to himself out loud and additionally shows signs of mental abnormalities, then self-medication in such a development of events is simply unacceptable. Only a doctor can understand the causes of the disease and prescribe treatment. So first go to a specialist, and then draw conclusions.
Any mental disorder should be treated under the supervision of a doctor who will prescribe the necessary medications. Each disease has its own treatment regimen, and the drugs also have many side effects.
Loneliness
Mostly people share their experiences with loved ones. These could be friends, parents, relatives, etc. Nevertheless, there are lonely people who, due to their secluded lifestyle, have no one to talk to. It is precisely for this category, as experts say, that thinking out loud is typical. Such an individual feels socially unadapted, and therefore tends to solve his problems on his own.
He puts his feelings into words, speaks them in his mind or out loud. In this way, a lonely person discusses this or that situation with himself and analyzes his attitude towards it. This individual is considered sane, but he can only escape from loneliness by talking to himself. What is the personality disorder called when a person talks to a fictitious interlocutor? More on this below.
A child talks to himself - what to do: advice from psychologists
Why do children talk to themselves?
If you notice that your little one is talking to himself out loud, there are a few tips parents should follow:
- First of all, you shouldn’t forbid him to do this. In this way he expresses his feelings and tries to explore what surrounds him. The better a child’s thinking is developed, the more he will speak. This goes away with age, and therefore there is no point in sounding the alarm.
- If a child speaks with toys before the age of 10, it means he is emotional . Through conversation in games, he develops oratory skills. If he is constantly angry, nervous and has poor sleep, then this is a reason to contact a psychiatrist.
- If a child has already reached adolescence, he does not communicate with anyone and has no friends, then think about whether he may have some problems. Try to talk to him carefully.
- If you cannot find contact with your child and he clearly has a lack of communication with peers, then it is worth visiting a consultation with a psychotherapist.
About schizophrenia
People diagnosed with this disease suffer from visual and auditory hallucinations. Consequently, such an individual will react accordingly.
For example, a schizophrenic person dreamed that a friend, relative or other person was in his room. He asks the patient a question, the individual answers him, and thus a conversation begins. Outsiders, namely normal people, cannot see the “interlocutor”, and therefore it seems that a person with a mental disorder is talking to himself. A similar situation is typical for those diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
How to stop talking to yourself on your own: tips
If you yourself think that a person talks to himself out loud or you yourself are normal, then you definitely don’t have a problem. However, if you realize that you are wasting your time, then it is better to give up this habit. This is quite possible and not even very difficult as it may seem.
First of all, switch your attention from verbal communication to something else. Imagine different pictures, images and melodies. That is, you should perceive the information like a video camera, but not give a response. Christianity claims that in this way one can achieve inner silence.
If you know how to meditate, then this is great, because different varieties of this activity help overcome the dialogue within. Start by observing first. Just watch your thoughts and over time the dialogue will disappear.
Meditation
The technique of detached observation of the outside world also works well. This way you will watch everything as if from a screen. Each type of meditation allows you to solve problems, the main thing is to choose a method that is convenient for you.
Physical exercise also helps get rid of internal dialogue, because during training and breathing exercises, the mind will be too busy to dialogue with itself. As an option, try to materialize your thoughts. For example, if you thought you needed to go to the store, get up and go. Then you won’t have to internally negotiate with yourself and decide whether you need it or not.
Mantras also allow you to silence your internal dialogue. If you recite a mantra, you will not only get rid of dialogue, but also clear your mind. Come up with a text that will make you tune in to good thoughts. There is no need to look for too abstruse speeches. Recite it until your consciousness is full. Not only will you drown out the dialogue, but you will also develop the opinion that everything is fine.
Also try external influence. Your task is to turn off one of the senses. Just take a bath with pleasant oil and foam. In other words, relax.
About Down syndrome
Unlike schizophrenics, people with this diagnosis do not talk to themselves because of hallucinations or delusions. An individual with Down syndrome may talk aloud about his toy, himself, or a fictional or real person. According to psychiatrists, a patient can choose any object he likes as an object. In this way, he seems to connect with the thing and can be responsible for it. The presence of the syndrome is indicated by the tone in which a person conducts a conversation. Switching from one thing to another, such a patient often changes his voice. The disease state may be further aggravated by physical pain, illness, anxiety and depression.
Conducting an experiment. Self-Dialogue Help
Researchers started an experiment to find out how a monologue helps find lost things. The volunteers were divided into 2 parts. One group looked for a thing, thinking out loud, and the other - silently.
The results were surprising. The first group found what was lost sooner than the second. This study proves that self-talk helps to perceive and understand data more correctly and speeds up the functioning of the brain.
Where does systematic self-talk come from, and why is the voice within us exactly like this?
Like other factors in personality development, it is formed at an early age. It is upbringing that influences our consciousness and internal dialogues. If you constantly hear insults directed at yourself, characterizing you as a lazy incompetent, then the voice inside will only utter insults. Such children become pessimists, aggressive or apathetic.
A conversation with yourself will help you find a lost item, understand a complex problem, and make the right choice.
If your parents made such a mistake, then do not despair. Everyone can help themselves. If you work on yourself, sooner or later you will hear an exclamation from within: “I’m doing great.” Researchers have expressed opinions about the primary inner voice. In 70% of cases, the inner “man” is the one who brings criticism and negativity in life. For a positive result, try to change it, subjugate it. Present all reproaches as a cute animal or an overly pretentious personality. If you focus on the way you speak internally, it will distract from the essence of the phrases, they will not offend your personality as much.
Then learn to “turn off” the internal dialogue if it is a hindrance. This is difficult, but training will make the task easier: concentrate on several points at once, try to keep 3 things in your field of vision, perceive 3 sounds around you. Such workload will “drown out” the conversation inside.
If your inner “resident” loves you, then he helps in fulfilling your plans. And turning it off often helps not only in relationships (the voice talking about problems and past failures often spoils romance and intimacy), but also in work.
Remember, a conversation with yourself should support a person in everything, not cause panic, and not distract from important thoughts and moments
About split personality
This is another reason why a person begins to talk to himself. Split personality usually begins in early childhood as a result of mental trauma. This disease can also manifest itself in adults due to stress of a sexual nature. As a result, it seems to such an individual that he consists of two entities.
It is noteworthy that they can be completely different. According to psychiatrists, patients are predominantly in a state of severe depression and repeatedly attempt to inflict physical harm on themselves.
