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]

The person that I know that fits this discription is a highly functioning person with Autism/ Asbergers.

I do this a tad when alone, stories running through my head and I will laugh out loud when I am totally alone. I have been like this since I was a child and made my mother nervous as all hell. I am not schizophrenic that I know of, and really should write all these funny thoughts down and try and put them in book form.

In the autobiographical books 'Nobody Nowhere' and 'Somebody Somewhere', by Donna Williams, she describes these same actions perfectly...

http://www.donnawilliams.net/

Dren5 said:

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.

Right. Just being quirky and talking to yourself and having actual Schizonphania are two totally different things. We've all seen schizonphrenics on the street corners (and smack dab in the middle of the streets:lol: ). It's totally different.

I talk to the goldfish (Walter and his pals) all the time....

This morning I had to dash out without feeding them .. I told them I would be back soon and not to worry......

.....and when I returned I said to them "I told you so" and fed them... They knew

I also talk to the trolls, but as we all know that is totally normal