"Just don't answer yourself"

[Doctor Cringelord]

I talk to myself often. In my head, like I assume everyone else does, and sometimes aloud. Often I hear "it's okay to talk yourself, just don't answer yourself." The assumption being that when we answer ourselves we must be insane.

Why is this? I don't see having a dialogue with the self as a sign of mental illness. Often I find it's a very healthy way of gaining more perspective on something, of helping me to find an answer that was under my nose the entire time.

 

[Kierva]

I talk to myself often. In my head, like I assume everyone else does, and sometimes aloud. Often I hear "it's okay to talk yourself, just don't answer yourself." The assumption being that when we answer ourselves we must be insane.

Why is this? I don't see having a dialogue with the self as a sign of mental illness. Often I find it's a very healthy way of gaining more perspective on something, of helping me to find an answer that was under my nose the entire time.

I know I do, and when I do, people look at me like I'm crazy.

Sometimes it's just helpful to get your thoughts out of the way by making it concrete -- either through speaking or writing. I find writing arduous, so I just choose the path of least resistance.

 

[miss fortune]

I talk to myself out loud... which is probably worse, but it helps me remember things a lot better...

I also answer myself

 

[prplchknz]

I will answer myself sometimes it's needed and if that's crazy then they don't even know.

 

[Forever]

I don't. Y'all are crazy.

Just kidding, I do though too.

 

[Starry]

I don't know but I imagine it stems from a time when decisions were to be done as a group or left to a "more knowledgeable" authority figure? It hasn't been until more recent times that "thinking for yourself" was considered a good thing. I'm assuming those who did so were often seen as mad.

 

[SpankyMcFly]

Vocalizing competing thoughts that might lead you to answer yourself is LEGIT yo. Its also good prep for old age.

Tangent: One of the prominent theories of consciousness was based on the idea that our brains evolved consciousness for this very reason. So that different parts of our brain could talk to one another. Among other reasons.


The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind ~ Jaynes

"At the heart of this classic, seminal book is Julian Jaynes's still-controversial thesis that human consciousness did not begin far back in animal evolution but instead is a learned process that came about only three thousand years ago and is still developing. The implications of this revolutionary scientific paradigm extend into virtually every aspect of our psychology, our history and culture, our religion -- and indeed our future. "


Bicameralism (psychology) - Wikipedia

Julian Jaynes Society | Exploring Consciousness and the Bicameral Mind Theory Since 1997

 

[magpie]

I thought everyone did this. It's called consciousness. Having a conversation with yourself is what thinking is.

 

[Smilephantomhive]

I don't think it is crazy, as long as you are aware that it is you answering and not some other voice.

 

[Santosha]

I do it fairly often. Answer myself too. And I blame it on everyone else. For being shit conversationalists

But really, I just get so lost in my own mind at times, that saying it out loud grounds and draws my focus to my external environment and getting things done. Connected to executive function for me.

 

[Doctor Cringelord]

I thought everyone did this. It's called consciousness. Having a conversation with yourself is what thinking is.

I assume everyone else does

I assumed everyone did, I just wondered why it persists that some people see it as a sign of weirdness or insanity.

 

[Hiraeth]

I'm glad everyone here has said they do this because I do it myself all the time. Now I don't feel so insane anymore. Thanks everyone!

 

[geedoenfj]

"Just don't answer yourself"

I do it all the time, even when others are around, I don't care if I get laughed at, which happens sometimes, they're chuckling and shaking their heads, but I leave the more crazy stuff just for myself, I don't want to give them a shock

 

[Merced]

I answer myself all the time. My thoughts flow better in conversational format. I'm always talking to myself.

There's a scene in It's Always Sunny that comes to mind. Season 10, Episode 6 "The Gang Misses the Boat". A personal favorite of mine.

Dennis: "All right. There's that anger coming up again. I'm getting weird and arch. But that's the gang's fault. That-that's not me. I'm fine, see? I'm... I'm calm, man. I'm cool as a cucumber. It's all good. It's all good. Talking to myself, but that's just 'cause I, you know, I've got shit to say, you know?"

 

[Peter Deadpan]

I do this all the time. You should see me trying to decide between two competing potential purchases at stores. Or what about when you're walking around in public and you're having a conversation in your head and you either: move your mouth silently responding to something, or start smiling really big trying not to laugh at something funny you imagined.

 

[Pionart]

I do this all the time. You should see me trying to decide between two competing potential purchases at stores. Or what about when you're walking around in public and you're having a conversation in your head and you either: move your mouth silently responding to something, or start smiling really big trying not to laugh at something funny you imagined.

Haha, definitely these.

I generally don't talk out loud around people, unless it's around friends and it's something they could possibly respond to. I get self conscious over appearing possibly crazy because I really do have a mental illness.

 

[Doctor Cringelord]

or start smiling really big trying not to laugh at something funny you imagined.

This often happens to me.

 

[Frosty]

I do this all the time- all the time. Especially if I am trying to focus or figure something out. Or convince myself of something or berate myself. Heck I do it for everything, and I think its fairly helpful and cuz of that... not unhealthy. But I do this really often and yeah also answer myself. Mostly to focus- I also- when I am trying to focus- I like direct my arms out in front of myself to like... point forwards- or ground myself I suppose.

 

[Fluffywolf]

Really?

Major dilemma!

If I don't answer myself, no one will...

I don't want to keep walking around with questions for days!

If I have to be crazy to do it, then that's what it takes.

 

[Hitoshi-San]

I'm pretty sure a lot more people than you'd think do this, b/c I don't think I've ever met anyone who could honestly tell me that they've never talked to themselves at some point in time. my brother does it regardless of whether other people are around or not if he's trying to concentrate on something or figure it out. I do it if there's something I can only get out of my system by saying it out loud (if that makes sense) but I don't feel like telling anyone in specific. also, if I'm reading something it helps me to not zone out as fast.