Good post. I agree, it's a coping/defense mechanism. In real life we cannot express our feelings/thoughts all the time, whether because it's not acceptable or because we are alone. I do that in my sleep and with the self-talk. Our brains actually doesn't stop working. That's why if we are alone and not distracted we are prone to do self-talking. I have to say that it's difficult to know what's normal when people aren't talking about it. I believe most people think, as I do, these things are embarrassing, so, there is this feeling that maybe only me I do these things!!