[Miss Laura]

Hi guys,

I'm talking to a friend on fb. I was saying about talking to myself and that I imagine if not see people all day every day. I have a good memory for faces. So I re-enact conversations with people in mind. I have always talked to people in my head out loud.... It's just a thing I always have done. It becomes problematic when it's a daily chat which it has been recently. My friend says it's not normal.

Is it normal? If not what is wrong with me? Am I going crazy? I thought everyone did this?

[hexacoda]

I only did it when I was psychotic, but I dunno, your mileage may vary. I was also paranoid and manic at the time.

[Miss Laura]

Thanks hexacodo,

I don't feel manic or anything but I haven't been taking my meds but that's beside the point. I have spoken to myself since I was a kid.

I feel a little messed up tonight. Thinking it's not normal after I was told it was ok to talk to yourself by my psychiatric nurse.so I'm all confused

If it doesn’t interfere with your life, and you know you’re not having conversations with real people, then what harm is there in it? It sounds like self-soothing activity to me, which I think is OK to do.

[Unrigged64072835]

I don't always say them out loud, but I've had conversations with people like that too. I don't see anything wrong with it. If anything it helps me organize my thoughts.

[Movingon69]

My husband tells me I do it. He's said I've done it for years. I don't talk out loud. He just sees my mouth moving and facial expressions. When he calls me out I have no idea what he's talking about.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I do it too. All the time. Sometimes whole conversations and arguments.

Thought I was alone in this..

[Miss Laura]

Thanks guys.... I kinda do talk to people like they are in the top. Like a full blown conversation with them. They are always around every day they see what I do and who I am when with people. I talk about anything past to present. It does kinda interfere with my life if I'm honest. I spend time doing it when I could be doing things. I kinda see people but I don't know if it's an over active imagination I have or not. I don't hear voices or anything like that.

[pirilin]

Only if the other party replies.

I’ve always had conversations with other people, either in my head or out loud. They are people that I know IRL, and either about situations that happened that I wished had gone differently, or situations that I’m anticipating/rehearsing. I’ve always considered it an anxiety thing, and also related to my tendency to reflect and introspect a lot. I don’t consider it a problem, even though it can be quite time consuming when I’m really worried. I don’t know how similar that is to what you experience though?

What your nurse said about talking to yourself is true though. Because I also talk to myself out loud as a way to problem solve and figure out my next steps in an activity. I only started doing it a couple of years ago due to cognitive issues. I have trouble figuring out sequences, like getting ready in the morning in the right order, and following recipes. So I talk myself through each step out loud. This is different from what I wrote first, and is called self-talk. Children do it naturally as a way to problem solve, but we condition them to stop because society says that talking to yourself is ‘crazy’, which is a shame. I don’t remember how I started doing it and found that it was helpful, but it was, so I’ve found myself doing it more and more as time has gone on. I try not to do it in public, but don’t always catch myself. But the benefits of self-talk are being recognised now as a useful problem solving technique, so hopefully talking to yourself will become less stigmatised in future.

If this talking to yourself is causing you difficulties, and you say that it does “interfere with [your] life”, then you should bring it up with your treatment team

*Willow*

I talk out loud a lot. Also inside my head. I think it's ok. Others have made good points that I'll echo -- self-soothing, rehearsal, problem solving, organizing thoughts. I'll add loneliness, because I think that drives mine a lot.

You did mention being off your meds. Do you think that might be making it feel a bit more problematic (like you mention kind of seeing people which can be a bit disconcerting even when you realize they're not real) and/or contributing to your anxiety over it?

[Miss Laura]

Thanks guys for all response i really do appreciate people responding. I have been told before it's down to loneliness but I was depressed then years ago when I was told this. I feel fine tbh in regard of being off my meds. Not too high not too low. Just stable if that's possible. I'm itching to talk as I have been staying with my parents for the past week. I was talking under my breath last night and again in the shower this morning. I'm seeing my new Psych Nurse on Thursday but I'm worried about what she will say. Being off my meds is one thing. But since I last saw her 1 month ago and I have been off my meds for 2-3 weeks it's not boding well. I hate disappointing people and I always screw up with my meds. I can't stay on them and it's getting annoying now. I'm known to be an atypical bipolar by going on and off my meds. Apparently. I'm wondering if I should tell her about speaking to people?

[Miss Laura]

My friend I have been speaking to on fb says I'm manic and that talking to yourself isn't normal at all. Says the fact I'm seeing people and talking to them is definetly not normal and I need to start taking my meds and tell my nurse on Thursday. I keep saying I'm fine but I don't think she is believing me

[bpforever1]

I talk to myself at times too by myself only though. I sometimes think imaginary beings are with me and protecting me. I don't think anything is wrong with talking to imaginary beings or people as long as you keep it to yourself. Most people think I am not mentally ill because with them I behave within the norms of society. However, by myself, I do whatever I please. I would not tell others who don't understand about mental illness about your imaginary friends. Of course, they will say you are not doing well and to take or increase your meds. However, if you have a diagnosis and should be taking meds, please listen to your doctor's advice. If you are seeing imaginary beings or people constantly, then please tell your doctor about this if you can't control these thoughts. I am able to act within the norms of society when I am in public because I take my medication. I know this sounds weird to you now but medication helps to limit such thoughts of imaginary beings etc. I used to think imaginary beings were telling me to strip off my clothes in public so this was a very big problem and not acceptable behavior. I was off my medication during this time and ever since I have been on medication, my imaginary friends "protect" me, not "harm" me. I don't know if this makes sense? But, please listen to your doctor and hopefully if you need to take medications, they will help limit your thoughts about imaginary people or beings. So, having imaginary friends is not the problem. When the imaginary friends start to interfere with your daily activities and prevent you from acting within the norms of society, then you have major problems and need to seek help from a doctor.

[Miss Laura]

I keep it to normally my house so it's just in my house nowhere else. So people don't actually know I speak to people unless I get caught which doesn't happen as I live alone. My friend on fb also has bipolar. I guess she doesn't speak to herself lol. I can act normal in society too.... it's just behind close doors I'm struggling. The people don't answer back or anything like that. They are just there for me to talk to. Sometimes I hear voices in my head but again I have always had these but they aren't troublesome nor are they hard to deal with. They are just in my head. I sound like a right crazy person sorry guys

I used to do that when I was 5. Don't worry about it.

(Reality : " I do it since I was 5.")

[bluemountains]

Originally Posted by Miss Laura

My friend I have been speaking to on fb says I'm manic and that talking to yourself isn't normal at all. Says the fact I'm seeing people and talking to them is definetly not normal and I need to start taking my meds and tell my nurse on Thursday. I keep saying I'm fine but I don't think she is believing me

I'll be interested to hear what is normal.
I have always talked to myself or to imaginary friends, or to real friends who aren't there at the time. I am in control of my conversations, keeping these private. While I occasionally see people when my medications aren't effective, these aren't the people I have conversations with usually, although I will admit to quick conversations during psychotic episodes-I consider these to be different than the conversations I am describing as my day to day conversations.
I think it is interesting that your facebook friend is able to determine what is normal and what is not. I am assuming this comes from concern for you.

Bluemountains

[r010159]

Lately I have been talking out loud. This is usually just in my head. I find that this allows me to organise my thoughts, or determine what I would say later in a particular situation, such as anticipating problems. My daughter caught me doing this. I told her sometimes this helps me practice for lets say an upcoming interview. However, there are a few times I do this for no reason at all. So far, my imaginary person does not say anything real back to me. I understand what they are only part of my imagination. They are not real.

[Miss Laura]

Hey guys,

I saw my Nurse today. Got an extended appointment. Was in for an hour rather than 30 mins or less.

She thinks talking is normal but is a little bit concerned about seeing people. Says I'm not psychotic which is good but we will keep an eye on things.

I made a list of symptoms and from that she's concluded that I'm depressed and not manic. She says I need to start taking my meds and keep on them in order to feel better. Then once better I need to start doing things to keep my routine as I don't have a routine every day I get up and do nothing. I don't feel depressed that's the ironic thing I feel good