Rehearsal conversations, repeating phrases, obsessive thoughts

[Twelvesgirl]

There was a reply in one of the posts called talking to myself or something like that. The reply was speaking of thoughts and conversations etc in your head it said "repeating  themselves and also rehearsal conversations and obsessive thoughts/conversations" (sorry that's broken up, I didn't get the whole sentence!)
I too have this happen, and have for a long time, it does get worse, and now that I am semi stable on Lamictal it has calmed down a bit, and I catch myself doing it, and can stop. But the rehearsal conversations, sometimes I'll be having a conversation in my head or in a whisper, usually with people that I know, (I can see in my mind the people who I'm talking to or whatever). Everytime I'm doing this I'll get stuck on one particular phrase and repeat it over and over in my head or in a whisper until I catch myself and stop, does anyone know what that is? I don't remember who it was that wrote that reply above, I'll check and write personally.
Like I said, w/ the Lamictal and my mood stabilized better it has slowed down quite a bit, but still I catch myself doing it? Anyhow...thanks. I hope that made sense!

[Xila31]

I don't know about previous posts since I'm new here, but I have this conversation thing, too. I do this all the time. I talk to myself all the time when I'm by myself. Well, not 100% of the time by myself, but at least 85% of the time. It is like rehearsing a conversation as you say. I don't always talk as if I'm talking to people I know. Sometimes I talk as if I'm going to be answering questions to people I don't know, like meeting new person or an interview. I often pace back and forth when this happens. (I also pace the same way when on the phone usually, being on the phone can make me very nervous.) I've been doing this my whole life as far as I can remember. I do it so often I'm not sure what triggers it. Probably anxiety, though, or racing thoughts and trying to put everything in order in my head. Like, if I talk out loud then maybe the thoughts will come out?

I just started my meds today only a few hours ago. I am on the generic Lamictal now. I will have to see if this changes for me. It will be so weird if it changes. I never thought of it as an obsessive behavior because it is just part of my whole life.... but now that I think about it it can be disruptive to my routine if I really am anxious or having trouble.

[hell1971]

I think you are referring to my post, my doc told me once it is called looping, when you go over and over conversations in your head. I know when i become aware of these i am in trouble and its one of my signs that somethings off. I have rehearsal conversations with people i know yet will probably not have the conversation for actual. the conversations can change slightly each time or be word for word repeating, it drives my crazy as i also have thoughts going at the same time, usually at this point i have no tolerance for noise and find it hard to concentrate on someone talking to me. I am at that stage at the moment and its really annoying me, at the same time i find i cant read and take in info and i also write and read it back to find its gobaldygoop. i has taken me the whole morning to respond to this.

[Twelvesgirl]

Thank you, it was your post :) It seems that what I am experiencing is slightly different, but I do believe that maybe I should talk to my doctor about it. I guess since it seems to have gotten better w/ medication, I think :), it is something that has to do with BP. When I had terrible paranoia while manic getting ready to hit the depression brickwall, this was awful and it was very angry. Now it is strange, not the same conversation over and over, different conversations, but I always seem to get stuck somewhere along the conversation. That is when I start saying the phrase over and over. I don't get it, I'll have to talk to the doc! Thank you for answering!

[rogelio63]

I've done this for years and thought it was normal.  I will go over and over a topic ad nauseum,,well if they say this, then I'll come back and say that and then they'll respond with this and I'll say this,,,and so on and so on until I work myself into a frenzy, getting mad at people for conversations that never occurred or getting all irritable for conversations that never take place or the other person doesn't even have the opinion I'm arguing (in my head) about!!!!!  I don't have the repeating phrase over and over thing, but the conversations in my head are one of the most annoying things i've ever had to deal with.  
It's kind of like that saying, "misery loves company".  I'm not glad it happens to other people, but i'm really glad I'm not the only one that experiences this!!  Is this a bipolar thing??
Rodger

[Xila31]

I know exactly what you mean about getting worked up about conversations you've never had. And then I feel like I can't stop myself once I get going. I'll just keep repeating the conversation over and over and it gets worse and worse. Not all of my conversations get me worked up, but when they do it is such a heartache. I hope it is that this medicine helps with that because I think it will releive a lot of my stress!

[hell1971]

that also happens to me I get all emotional or angry at something that hasnt even happen because it was only a conversation rehearsal in my head but when its really bad I seem convinced it actually happened. If they could take anything away this would be it for me, it drives me crazy.