[TerriLynn]

What is this, or do "normal" people do this, or is it a product of my past abuse?

I have conversations with other people in my head. Real people, my husband, therapist, people at work, etc. mostly, sometimes fictional, sometimes no one. Not conversations that have already been had and replaying, but unique, individual conversations.

This morning on the way to work I was having conversations with my therapist. I would say something then I would be him saying something, not actually hearing his voice. I guess telling myself the things I want to hear.

Then I made up a story in my head when I saw a bus that had a unique kind of skirt around it. I made up this story about how it makes the gas mileage better and how one guy invented in and tested it on one bus and the people at the school board noted that it only saved a few dollars a month, but the guy argued that added on each bus a few dollars a month would add up to $1800 a year and that would at least buy band or sports equipment.

WHY am I making up stories in my head!!!

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by TerriLynn

What is this, or do "normal" people do this, or is it a product of my past abuse?

I have conversations with other people in my head. Real people, my husband, therapist, people at work, etc. mostly, sometimes fictional, sometimes no one. Not conversations that have already been had and replaying, but unique, individual conversations.

This morning on the way to work I was having conversations with my therapist. I would say something then I would be him saying something, not actually hearing his voice. I guess telling myself the things I want to hear.

Then I made up a story in my head when I saw a bus that had a unique kind of skirt around it. I made up this story about how it makes the gas mileage better and how one guy invented in and tested it on one bus and the people at the school board noted that it only saved a few dollars a month, but the guy argued that added on each bus a few dollars a month would add up to $1800 a year and that would at least buy band or sports equipment.

WHY am I making up stories in my head!!!

yes having conversations inside is normal. some locations and cultures call it having a conscience. some locations call it playing pretend, using ones imagination, others call it roll playing and still others call it thinking, mentally working out a situations.

for most people this is an automatic cognitive skill, for others it is taught at home, in schools, one common example is when a child is in math class the instructor writes something on the board and the student is expected to "work the problem out in their head" another common example is watching a group of children playing dress up or house some will be talking and another will be thinking, some will be roll playing.

in short its part of being a human being with a thinking mind.

if you feel your pretending/roll playing is out of control there is ways you can help yourself to be more extroverted rather than an introverted thinker, the most common way is just by noticing when you are daydreaming \ pretending \ roll playing these conversations and say the word stop then go back to what is real for you rather than the imaginary.

to find out the why someone does this you might take a college course on the brain, or go to your library and do some research on the brain and how the brain works.

[BlossomingLen]

Hello there! It's a pleasure to meet you.

With having conversations occur in your head, I would argue that "normal" people do this. Then again, I'm only assuming that because I do that. Sometimes this can be a way of coping with certain situations, envisioning how things would go in a particular scenario. However, it can also be ways of preparing yourself for conversations, readying for whatever sort of outcome. I do this and I'm pretty sure my brother does this as well. The only disorders that we've inherited from our parents were Anxiety and severe Paranoia. Though him and I are also very isolated from other people. Do you isolate yourself in any way? That may be something to do with it.

Overall, I'm sure this isn't anything super dangerous or life changing. It's something that many people do, I believe. Especially people who have difficult times expressing themselves, talking to others, isolating themselves, etc. Anxiety(likely Social) may play some part in it, or maybe Paranoia. But I'm leaning more towards the first option.

Thank you for reading. I hope you have a wonderful day!

[TerriLynn]

Thanks, if it is normal, why does it bother me so much, why is it so exhausting? If my husband were driving down the road silently and you asked him what he was thinking about, I could almost guarantee it would be nothing.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by TerriLynn

Thanks, if it is normal, why does it bother me so much, why is it so exhausting? If my husband were driving down the road silently and you asked him what he was thinking about, I could almost guarantee it would be nothing.

thinking \pretending/using ones imagination takes energy so for some people thinking is exhausting. also things like stress, how emotionally charged someones thoughts are can be exhausting. your treatment providers can explain more in detail how the brain works. and why your using your imagination \pretending/ holding conversations inside is exhausting for you.

[BlossomingLen]

Well, my boyfriend is the same way. He has absolutely nothing on his mind most of the time. Really, it depends on who you ask. I'm sure lots of people don't thing about things and don't over-analyze things or anything. Sometimes they do just think of nothing and that's just how different one person can be when compared to another. I don't think always having something on your mind is a bad thing, and I don't think that having nothing on your mind is a bad thing. Not every person is the same and not every difference is bad.

As for why it tires you out, I'm unsure. I'm tired and stressed out a lot of the time, too. But I don't think it's because of the thoughts I have. Perhaps you're being drained by some other source. Perhaps you're stressed, isolated, or any of the possibilities I mentioned in the response before this one. I recommend really thinking about what the main issue in your life is, what you think may be bothering you the most and causing this stress and tension. If you find it and manage to fix it, everything will likely be a lot smoother and you won't be as tired anymore. People with Anxiety that think about things constantly are often exhausted afterwards. So, that's another thing that I mentioned in my previous response. Either way. That's just my view on things.

If it truly worries you, you can ask a professional. But I really don't think it's anything to worry about.

[kittyfaye]

I do that too. I was doing it today, having a conversation in my head with my mom, my friend, my therapist, angry conversation with my roommate, several other people. Sometimes it's what could have been said or could be said. I thought I was weird because I do it all the time. I even thought about it today and thought I must be going nuts. I guess it's normal though.

[FireIsland123]

I often think I'm like an actor practicing his lines. I run through conversations in my head to see how I sound. Often after hearing it in my head, I make changes or decide it best not to have the actual conversation after all. Why do I do all this? One word. Anxiety. It's fear of saying the wrong thing. Fear of pissng someone off. Fear of ............ You name it. As for people who say they are not thinking about anything. That's bunk. They're thinking. They just may not want to say about what. Or its insignificant and it flies out of their head almost instantly. If you are troubled by the constant making up conversations in your head, I would ask you what you are worried about at that moment. But its all very normal I think.

[avlady]

one of my doctors diagnosed me with having internal conversations. i thought everybody did this. i think it is normal though and almost like a natural thing to do to also prepare ourselves for certain conversations too.

this I think is normal. I certainly do it, but more often these conversations are rehersals for those I would rather avoid having later

[starfruit504]

I always thought that was a product of my anxiety, which makes me overplan everything so I guess I'm planning future conversations? Planning out how I'm going to explain something to someone... definitely planning what I'm going to say in the next team meeting at work because if I talk for longer than 20 seconds I get interrupted...

I'm just really happy to hear it's normal!

[TerriLynn]

Well, it makes me FEEL crazy, so I don't know what that's about.

[jacky8807]

I'm like this as far as day dreaming imagination. My brain is always lit up and I think it just makes us more intelligent haha
Maybe it bothers you because you perceive it as"crazy or wierd"
Do you have a secret fear of going or being crazy?

[TerriLynn]

Yes, I have a fear of just completely losing it. I feel like I am holding on by a very fine thread.

[jbuttz]

Sometimes I talk out loud and I'll giggle and ask so and so a question only to look over and no one is there. I agree with Len when mentioning anxiety.

I'm very anxious, introverted, antisocial so I think it's just myself practicing for when I need it.

[ShineYourLight]

errrrr i hate this society that we live in!!!! im here to help keep that in mind BUT what is normal? please explain to me who invented the "normal life" haha i talk to people in my head all the time ex's people im mad at anyone...once you accept your flaws you finanlly become "normal" lol no one not one is the same peace

[ablankscript]

Sometimes I find myself playing out conversations in my head ones that really happened or not and then I come back to reality to find myself physically doing the accompanying body language. I always look around hoping Noone saw me because they would wonder who I was smiling and nodding to.

[TerriLynn]

Originally Posted by ablankscript

Sometimes I find myself playing out conversations in my head ones that really happened or not and then I come back to reality to find myself physically doing the accompanying body language. I always look around hoping Noone saw me because they would wonder who I was smiling and nodding to.

Me too!!

[MelloJoy]

I do this, too. It is tiring and seems to get out of control for me. Even when I say "stop" on days it's out of control nothing helps but medication and complete silence. Mostly it's common, that's what my doc and therapist say. As said above everyone does it. The mind doesn't stop working, it stays active.

[kittycatnj]

I do this too. I play out conversations that haven't happened but might happen or that I wish did happen. Like if I'm mad at my sis-in-law or brother. Then I might actually get mad! Or something I might want to discuss with my old therapist (I don't even have one now -- insurance reasons). A friend of mine suggested this is because I do not have alot of social support and don't talk to many people. My mind is always going, going, going. I can't wait for peace. For living for the moment. But you guys aren't alone, that's for sure, and I'm glad I'm not either. I'm glad I found this thread.

[JustMeMyself&I]

I do this a LOT. Like, constantly. It's okay though, as I read somewhere on the internet that 'talking to yourself' in your head and having conversations is actually a sign of a healthy brain.

[-jimi-]

I think I imagine I am better skilled for the future if I practice a lot of what might happen, different conversations, different scenarios. I don't know IF it actually helps, because nothing ever plays out IRL that I have imagined. Usually in my head, I have some kind of control over things. But when things happen IRL they usually go much worse. I could just as well be totally unprepared and using that time to actually live.

People are too unpredictable, and usually too evil, to be able for me to get my mind around, even imagining wildly.

[TishaBuv]

I have imaginary conversations with real people, dead people, fictional people. I do it when I'm alone and driving, which sometimes causes me to lose track of where I am going. I imagine I am being interviewed or on trial sometimes.

It's actually very helpful in rehearsing for real situations, preparing for whatever someone throws at you, practicing your responses.

But then, dontcha hate it when someone gives you a zinger and you only think of the perfect come back an hour later?

[Shoe]

I do this also especially if I am upset about something. When I am by myself sometimes I even talk out loud. I think it makes me feel better to get things off my chest even if there is no one else there to hear me. Sort of like the talking cure minus the therapist. Sometimes when I am on the sidewalk walking down the street I will talk out loud to myself about something I have been wrestling with. Then I start to feel self conscious that people driving by may see me talking out loud to myself and think I maybe a couple of bananas sort a bunch. To deal with this worry I found this old blue-tooth ear piece. Even though it doesn't work I wear it so that the people driving down the road will think that I must be talking to someone on my cell phone. Beside I heard a long time ago it is alright to talk to yourself as long as no one else is listening (besides yourself of course.)

[JustJenny]

Hi,

I didn't read all replies. I talk work everyday in m head, despite that I've been on a sick leave for the last two months. At some point I realized that those conversation were harmful and that I should stop "participating" in them. If you want to stop those thoughts meditation will help. Not in the sense of sitting alone uninterrupted, but in the sense on not thinking. It takes a little bit of time to learn but it really helped me to deal with my work anxiety which was partially caused by the imaginary conversations.