[JackUK]

Hi. I am a new member and this is my first post (I hope I'm posting this in the right place), and although I'm not great at explaining myself or articulating what I want to say (which is why it's hard to "google my crazy"), perhaps someone can provide a little insight...

To get to the point: I seem to be living in my head more and more everyday. I've always talked to myself in my head a bit, but over the last year or two it has become a constant thing. Literally 24/7 I am talking to myself in my head, saying the most random things, talking rubbish - but I simply cannot shut my own voice up... I even catch myself talking out loud to myself.

To be clear: I am NOT "hearing voices" and no one is telling to me to do anything, it's just my own voice talking talking talking (sometimes in "conversation" with myself but sometimes not talking *to* me, just talking out loud talking talking...). It's really starting to drive me mad: I can't sit through a movie or read a book or have a meal without my own voice in my head distracting me all the time - and that cannot be a "normal" thing!...

I don't know a great deal about mental/psychological issues, so I'm here to learn and help myself, but to try and explain - I don't feel depressed, I don't have mood swings like I used to, I do sometimes wake up "like a different person" somedays (ie. sometimes I'm positive and motivated and other days I'm very negative and pissed off), I don't hear multiple voices, I don't find myself in strange places without knowing how I got there, but I do sometimes have conversations/arguments with friends in my head and then when I see them I struggle to remember what we really talked about and what I imagined we did... So what I'm saying is I don't know how that is all related if at all / if I have multiple types of "crazy" etc...

I don't really know where to start let alone understand why by mind is the way it is - all I know is my internal voice never stops talking and it is overwhelming my daily life! If anyone has any decent suggestions or ideas or can offer help in some way, I'd appreciate the info.

Many Thanks.

[Leed]

Hi ~ I can relate to what you're describing. I have 'suffered' with this ALOT in my past, and like you said, it was enough to drive me crazy. No matter how hard i tried to stop it, I kept doing it anyway. The "noise" in my head was overwhelming !!

Then I thought of something that might help. You have to be able to 'visualize' -- it's kind of a trick.

What i did was visualize a clear plastic "wall" -- when the "noise" in my head got too loud, I would also "visualize" a little button that I could push and make that clear plastic wall go up between me and the noise. I could still "see" the person(s) talking, but I couldn't hear them anymore. Once the noise quieted down, I pushed the button again, to let the wall go back down. Then if it started again, I'd just repeat the process until the "noise" in my head stopped. And it HAS stopped, ALMOST entirely!!! I told my shrink about this, and he thought it was a great idea --- so I guess I'm not totally nuts. LOL

Just thought i'd pass this on. Maybe it will help, and maybe it won't. It's worth a try tho -- I had to do it for quite awhile before the noise stopped. Best of luck & God bless!!! Take care & keep us posted. Hugs, Lee

[unaluna]

I don't know what kind of crazy that is, either, but when I started on meds (SSRIs) 10 years ago, the talking stopped, like the first day, even though my pdoc (who was also my T) said afterwards that that was impossible. I know what I know! Some years after, I was with my mom, and I could tell from what she was saying that she was hearing the same talking, like pressured thoughts. So I don't know if it's nature or nurture, as they say. And I had no idea they could be silenced until they were. I think it might be OCD related because I always used to count backstrokes across the pool, or steps walking, stuff like that, now I don't anymore. Hope this helps.

[Bella01]

I thought this was normal. Now I'm wondering.

[unaluna]

If it doesn't BOTHER you, I wouldn't worry about it? Some racewalkers advocate breathing in for 4 steps, out for 4 (not really sure on the numbers), so maybe you would have to count to do that. But it was really detracting from my enjoyment in the pool. I'm not a very good swimmer, just swimming widths! and going one thru TWELVE! one thru ELEVEN! well, not out loud, but loud in my head! SO much nicer to just quietly get there. I was so grateful the original poster asked the question, there are such good descriptions from people on PC. As for Leed's push button wall, I wish I had one to RAISE to help me pay attention when I go on automatic.

[jubjub]

Originally Posted by Bella01

I thought this was normal. Now I'm wondering.

lol i wonder what normal is

[lmiDAKiml]

First and foremost, a diagnosis can only be given by a medical professional. Based on the limited information available, it doesn't sound like anything you should obsess over. If, however, you have other symptoms such as mood swings, occasional depression, or variations in energy level (more than what is considered normal) you might be looking at something like Bipolar Disorder.

Webmd has a good list of Bipolar symptoms which I cannot link to you at this time due to my post count. If they seem uncannily familiar, you might want to look into speaking with your doctor.