Is Talking to yourself a sign of mental illness?

Hi everyone,

I wanted to ask because I am not sure if this is normal or if I have way troo much time on my hands. Is talking to yourself bad for you? I know its weird but I will have conversations with myself, even yell at myself and sometimes blurt out things and tell myself to shut up. I think I am slowly losing my mind. Does anyone else have this problem? I am wondering what does this mean? Any opinions or input would be nice

I think that the degree matters. Can you give an example?

I talk to myself. That way, I get the answers that I want. But in seriousness, sometimes I self-criticize, and I'm trying to get out of the habit of negative self-talk. Talking to yourself is normal and good, if you're saying positive and encouraging things.

I talk to myself rather often, a lot of times it's just to help me organize my thoughts...like if I am doing something I might do so to keep focused or remember what I am doing or the steps for it or whatever. I also might rant about something that bothers me to no-one just to get it out but I don't do that around other people as they'd likely think I am going off on them.

Its like im having a conversation with myself like i would with a person. Sometimes I'll blurt something out so fast and then get frustrated. I like thinking aloud so i thinking talking to myself can be good and bad but sometimes I wish i could stop especially if I do it in public and get weird looks. That's why I asked if it was a metal health issue. Hope this makes sense.

Lonelywoman, lots of people talk to themselves. It's not necessarily a sign of mental illness. I use both negative and positive self-talk like Maven mentioned. I'll also talk to my self like Hellion mentioned to organize my thoughts.

In my opinion as long as you know that you are talking oto and answering yourself it's not a problem. Now, if you believe it's a different person talikning to you when you answer yourself, that might be a problem.

Perhaps you are looking for someone to talk to about things, but there nobody you feel you can talk to at the moment, so instead you are talking to yourself instead, running through conversations, organising your thoughts, expressing yourself??? I don't see why this necessarily has to be seen as a bad thing, or a sign of mental illness? Is it causing you much upset?

I'm no expert on these matters btw

I do it quite often when I have major depression. But I have to be alone when I do it. I would talk to myself for a couple hours and say horrible things, have conversations with myself. Also, I think that I understand my decisions better rather than thinking it out. I think that it's normal..

It helps me to concentrate and stay focused ...

Thanks everyone I am glad to see I am not alone. I was always curious and now I know that I am not the only one that does it I don't have many people to talk to mainly because I am afraid to talk to anyone and I don't want to put the burden on them. That's why I am glad I joined here

Personally I think everyone talks to themsevles just some do it out loud while everyone else does it in thier head....

Usually when I talk to myself, I avoid saying any flaming phrases. Yeah, I do where I am likely to be heard, but I try to keep it short. I usually do self talk when I'm alone at home. This is when I use my cockatiel Buddy as a handy prop and I talk to him. He appreciates the attention.

As I said, I "self-talk" a lot, but I'll also admit to having complete conversations in my head...that, on occasion, have spilled out of my mouth. Especially if I'm mad, or I'm trying to plan what I'm going to say to someone, or those moments--we all have them--when you think of a great comeback to an insult someone said to you, but it's too late because you're in a different location now!

I've been known to mouth things I'm picturing saying to someone else. And, if I get particularly offended or angry, I might blurt out something, like, "NO!" Luckily, I'm usually alone when I imagine how a situation is going to go, so if I do blurt, it's no big deal. It's very rare to happen in public, and if someone did look at me, I'd say, "Not you, sorry! I was just thinking out loud!"

Talking to myself is always fun...at the library , lol hard not to when I am trying to find books.

I talk to myself as a different person.

They're my friend!

I named them Sam.

Just thought id throw my bit in. I have conversations with myself all the time but with split personality's (more than 6) happy, sad, angry ect. and i ask them on how they feel about certain situations and how i should react. it gives me a great perspective on how others feel when i personally am happy but others may be sad

talking to yourself is ok as long as you are not the only person you talk to during the week and you do it in privacy.

I talk to myself when going through my routine of getting ready to go out, it is the only way i remember everything i need...boots, boot warmers, jumper, waterproof, gloves, hand warmers, phone, meds, pads, spare pants,purse,blankey, scooter charger, etc!

I also talk to myself when processing things that have upset me...like having a conversation i should have had but couldn't at the time. it helps me to be prepared for the next encounter with the person who upset me and makes me feel better. the only problem with this is that i usually find myself having this conversation as i am scootering home and find i get some strange looks though this is not so bad lately as most people here use hands free phones so it looks like i am talking on a phone!

talking to yourself can be a sign of loneliness, especially if you are housebound and have very few or no visitors. It can also be a sign of some mental disorders, e.g people who hear voices often vocalise replies to the voices, but not everyone with a mental disorder talks to themself.

I used to try to not talk out loud to myself , it feels abnormal . I feel it's a thinking out loud sort of thing , otherwise the thought gets lost . It can be a post it note . Holding a conversation with my self and talking out loud to no one is so common I rarely notice anymore. Now that people have those BUG phones , no one should notice me talking out at all. I do tell myself I'm stupid and such at times, but just relate what you say as a possible voice of what you feel inside that needs to be addressed.

Good question by the way .

Welcome to pc. I hope you do not stay a loney woman long!

Why would talking to yourself be a sign of mental illness? i talk to the clay, the car, myself, the lock that will not turn, and i sing. i think it is all okay. i do not care if it is not okay. i do it and will continue to do it.

i talk to myself to if I've got to figure something out or doing something creative, and also sometimes before i go to sleep-i don't seem anything is wrong with it it is just a way to"tune" myself in to what's going on around me too

Sometimes I guide myself by talking. But only if no one else is near. It really helps me decide on my next step.

its a valid question. by itself id say no. coupled with other things like people said like if you already have an issue - you could ask someone or a therapist about it. or loneliness and such.

i talk to myself a lot.
im not sure if it has something to do with my illness. not really sure.
most of the time i cant control it like it just happens. and before i know it its been a couple of hours.
not sure if i did it when i was teen but the past few years its gotten to where i do it in public and i get many looks. but could maybe be from that and how i carry myself too. idk.

I am not a healthcare professional, but I do talk to myself, and I don't think talking to oneself is always a sign of mental illness. If you are truly concerned about this, maybe you could find a healthcare provider hotline or something like that in your area that you can call and ask. Hope all works well for you.

Well, I talk to myself all the time... maybe not out loud... but my brain is always ahead of me.... Not a signicant sign on any mental illness... kind of like singing in the shower However, if you find yourself talking to yourself in public places... this could be a sign... ps. I talk to my animals all the time... Thank goodness there are no english speaking witnesses.. LOL