Do you know the saying... "It's ok to talk to yourself, as long as your not answering yourself". Now it's just a saying....but when I was manic not only did I talk to myself (in my head), but I was clearly answering myself also, as if I was two people, which was different then the stream of thought one can have where answers appear. Like you I have a hard time articulating what I'm saying. But, it was definitely not my norm and has stopped now that I'm no longer manic.

Oh, and I don't think it's flight of ideas, but I don't know this 100%