OK, this is a serious question, so please try not to jack it into a balls and ass thread until at least 50 posts or so, ok?

Do you know anyone who is :

1. NOT SCHIZOPHRENIC

AND

2. Talks to himself/herself compulsively?

I know someone who makes little squeeky mumbling sounds underneath her breath when she is in public or around people. I see her eyes glancing seriously in front of her as if she is looking at somebody, and she starts nodding her head as if agreeing or trying to make someone agree with her.

The sounds are very low and mousy sounding, but they are diffenately there. I was in a car last week, and she sat behind me. She made these sounds which I could hear, and the taxi driver could hear. I wasn't embarassed for her---Life sucks for everyone in different ways, but I was curious if this is normal.

A couple of things:

1. She is lonely

2. She spends LOTS of time alone

3. She is odd, and doesn't really connect with people---She THINKS she does, but is oblivious to the fact that she makes other people uncomfortable or sometimes pity her.

Once a friend of mine and I had gotten home from shopping and I was staying at my friend's house. We walked in, and this person was having this really elaborate giggling conversation with nobody. It was like a giant gossip fest, and she was giggling and moving her arms in the manner you would when you're laughing and engaged in a hilarious story.

Our mutual friend asked her if everything was ok, at which point she completely froze, mortified that we had discovered she was doing this (this happened about 7 years ago). This indicated to me that it couldn't possibly be schizophrenia, because she knew the 'people' she was talking to were not there and that this was something to be ashamed of (I mean this only to point out her feelings).

She was stone cold shocked and didn't answer. She simply looked embarassed and said she had to go talk a shower to get ready for a party we were planning.

It was like she was reliving a momment or having some type of rehearsal.

Since then, I've paid more attention and noticed that it happens all the time. It even happens in front of people now, but in a low mumbling trying-oh-so-hard-to-conceal it manner.

Does anyone know somebody who does this?

.

[Edited 12/12/11 3:06am]

What you have written reads like she is simply daydreaming. Like the way kids play when they are by themselves; acting everything out and giggling... She probably didnt grow out of that behaviour so its followed her into adulthood. Especially if she is used to being alone? she might still be daydreaming to keep herself company.

I've also read about Maladaptive daydreaming which is another type of excessive daydreaming.

My mom used to do this from time to time when I was growing up but only when she was pissed off about something. She would make these humming sounds when walking around the house and her fingers would wiggle around as she did it so I know in her head she was bitching one of us out and possibly strangling us.

I did this up until I was 5 or so and stopped after my mom said to. Now the most I'll do is sometimes type what I speak, or repeat things I said to myself a few times for some reason when no one is around. My sister noticed it a few times but I don't think it's anything serious.

I do it all the time.

It has nothing to do with being scared or lonely (at least, it doesn't in my case). Most of the time, it's just a way of anticipating situations or working out/making sense of something that's happened. A lot of times, it boils down to, "Dammit, this is what I SHOULD have said."

I've heard from my parents that my grandmother talked to herself, too. Once, my parents were over at my place and I was in another room looking for something (I had just moved). I was saying stuff like, "Okay, I know it isn't in that box. And I just looked in that one." My mom remarked to my dad, "She sounds just like your mother." My grandmother died when I was 5 and I never lived with her, so I doubt it was something I learned from her.

I mostly do it in the car on my way home from work. It's my way of decompressing, so I get all the petty bullshit out of my head and don't lay it on Sweetie. And there are some things that bug me (even about him) that just aren't worth bothering other people with. If I've already vented it to myself, I can let it go.

Genesia said:

I do it all the time.

It has nothing to do with being scared or lonely (at least, it doesn't in my case). Most of the time, it's just a way of anticipating situations or working out/making sense of something that's happened. A lot of times, it boils down to, "Dammit, this is what I SHOULD have said."

I've heard from my parents that my grandmother talked to herself, too. Once, my parents were over at my place and I was in another room looking for something (I had just moved). I was saying stuff like, "Okay, I know it isn't in that box. And I just looked in that one." My mom remarked to my dad, "She sounds just like your mother." My grandmother died when I was 5 and I never lived with her, so I doubt it was something I learned from her.

I mostly do it in the car on my way home from work. It's my way of decompressing, so I get all the petty bullshit out of my head and don't lay it on Sweetie. And there are some things that bug me (even about him) that just aren't worth bothering other people with. If I've already vented it to myself, I can let it go.

I do this. And it's very therapeutic.

JuliePurplehead said:

Genesia said:

I do it all the time.

It has nothing to do with being scared or lonely (at least, it doesn't in my case). Most of the time, it's just a way of anticipating situations or working out/making sense of something that's happened. A lot of times, it boils down to, "Dammit, this is what I SHOULD have said."

I've heard from my parents that my grandmother talked to herself, too. Once, my parents were over at my place and I was in another room looking for something (I had just moved). I was saying stuff like, "Okay, I know it isn't in that box. And I just looked in that one." My mom remarked to my dad, "She sounds just like your mother." My grandmother died when I was 5 and I never lived with her, so I doubt it was something I learned from her.

I mostly do it in the car on my way home from work. It's my way of decompressing, so I get all the petty bullshit out of my head and don't lay it on Sweetie. And there are some things that bug me (even about him) that just aren't worth bothering other people with. If I've already vented it to myself, I can let it go.

I do this. And it's very therapeutic.

It's probably why I've never required counseling - or Prozac.

Chalk up one more talk-to-selfer; I do it all the time (in fact, while proofreading this post, I notice I'm reading it aloud).

Where your friend and I diverge is I couldn't imagine having the urge to do so when I am in the presence of other people. That seems like it could be a gateway to some sort of craziness... maybe she needs a little counseling.

at home, i keep up a running conversation with my birds. they chirp back, and it serves as conversation for all of us.

sometimes, i do find myself talking to them when they aren't around. in the car, for example... i'm fine though. perfectly normal.

imago said:

OK, this is a serious question, so please try not to jack it into a balls and ass thread until at least 50 posts or so, ok?

Do you know anyone who is :

1. NOT SCHIZOPHRENIC

AND

2. Talks to himself/herself compulsively?

I know someone who makes little squeeky mumbling sounds underneath her breath when she is in public or around people. I see her eyes glancing seriously in front of her as if she is looking at somebody, and she starts nodding her head as if agreeing or trying to make someone agree with her.

The sounds are very low and mousy sounding, but they are diffenately there. I was in a car last week, and she sat behind me. She made these sounds which I could hear, and the taxi driver could hear. I wasn't embarassed for her---Life sucks for everyone in different ways, but I was curious if this is normal.

A couple of things:

1. She is lonely

2. She spends LOTS of time alone

3. She is odd, and doesn't really connect with people---She THINKS she does, but is oblivious to the fact that she makes other people uncomfortable or sometimes pity her.

Once a friend of mine and I had gotten home from shopping and I was staying at my friend's house. We walked in, and this person was having this really elaborate giggling conversation with nobody. It was like a giant gossip fest, and she was giggling and moving her arms in the manner you would when you're laughing and engaged in a hilarious story.

Our mutual friend asked her if everything was ok, at which point she completely froze, mortified that we had discovered she was doing this (this happened about 7 years ago). This indicated to me that it couldn't possibly be schizophrenia, because she knew the 'people' she was talking to were not there and that this was something to be ashamed of (I mean this only to point out her feelings).

She was stone cold shocked and didn't answer. She simply looked embarassed and said she had to go talk a shower to get ready for a party we were planning.

It was like she was reliving a momment or having some type of rehearsal.

Since then, I've paid more attention and noticed that it happens all the time. It even happens in front of people now, but in a low mumbling trying-oh-so-hard-to-conceal it manner.

Does anyone know somebody who does this?

.

[Edited 12/12/11 3:06am]

This sounds a little like tourettes to me.

I do this all the time but I'm having full blown conversations. When I notice that others are noticing, I just pretend I'm on my Bluetooth

I talk to myself all the time...when I am alone.

My boss does it all day long, and she talks LOUD! "okay I need to go to the bathroom...I am going to call so and so...what was I doing...that's funny...oh I'm tired...my vagina itches..."

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I do this all the time but I'm having full blown conversations. When I notice that others are noticing, I just pretend I'm on my Bluetooth

...

It depends what kind of 'talkin to self' we discussing here:

If it's

a) little reminders like "where did I put it" " I can't find......." etc. Then that is normal and everyone pretty much does that.

if it's

b) "hey jimmy, bob what are yall up to...hahaha I can't believe yall are having this party without me" If it's that kind of 'Talking to self' then that person should get councelling because that sounds like they are going crazy.

[Edited 1/13/12 9:09am]

My Aunt talks to herself all the time. One time I knocked on her door and I heard her having a fairly loud conversation. When she finally answered the door she said "sorry I took so long." I said it's okay, I heard you on the phone. She said "I wasn't on the phone.."

i bothered by him saying that people pity her...

NDRU said:

I talk to myself all the time...when I am alone.

My boss does it all day long, and she talks LOUD! "okay I need to go to the bathroom...I am going to call so and so...what was I doing...that's funny...oh I'm tired...my vagina itches..."

http://www.etsy.com/listi...hea-butter

you should get her these if you get her for secret santa this year

waiting for post 50...

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I do this all the time but I'm having full blown conversations. When I notice that others are noticing, I just pretend I'm on my Bluetooth

This makes me feel better. I'm not alone! lol. I totally do something similar to this.

Everyone is talking to themselves all the time in their head. Some people just do it out loud.

I do it all the time. When I was younger, I noticed a lot of older people talked to themselves and I used to laugh at them. Now, here I am in the same boat. I can be in a room full of people and I'll end up talking both to myself and the other people. I do it all the time at work. It just helps me to understand things more when I verbally express them to myself rather than silently doing so. People think I'm old & senile but that's okay. It works for me. I think it's just all a part of getting older. Most of the people I've known who do it are over 40.

I do this all the time. When no one's around. But... the way I channel this in a publicly acceptable way is to channel the imagined things into making stuff like music, films, drawings, jokes, etc.

Basically I'm always imagining scenes, dialogue, reactions, images: sort of day dreaming ALL THE TIME. When I'm alone I'll sometimes imagine a conversation in my head, almost like I'm writing a scene, but in reality I'm making a sandwich, and if I myself am in the scene I might say a line out loud. It's embarassing because I know the cat thinks I"m talking to it.

Friends do catch me laughing or smiling a lot because I'm remembering something really funny from the past vividly enough to react to it.sometimes I think this kind of vivid memory recall of hilarious moments from the past is a defense mechanism if the current situation is too boring, or depressing.

At any given moment in time, I'm making up music in my head (which I do sometimes do record in reality), or inventing dramatic or funny scenes with or without me in them, and with or without people I actually know.

I also compulsively draw all the time (which for the most part is doodling). If there's not a pen and paper in hand, I will draw in the air and imagine the lines before they fade away. People have caught me doing that. But again, I''m a professional illustrator from time to time. I was drawing comic books in 2nd grade of my versions of King Kong or Jaws or The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms.

I could be crazy!

I do it all the time, but probably because I don't get to speak English with people that often.

I do it all the time. And I'm one of the sanest people out here.

Sometimes it really is just a random personality quirk and isn't a sign of actual mental illness.

halfway there...

CoJones said:

halfway there...

I'm intrigued

muirdo said:

CoJones said:

halfway there...

I'm intrigued

actually just read the OP

I never made the link from talking to yourself to Schizophrenic.

i talk a lot to myself, it's just that you think a lot about something and start talking....see nothing abnormal with it.

Like Conscious said, everybody talks to themselves....