Constantly talking to myself in my head

I feel like I am going a little crazy and I can no longer remember what it was like to feel normal, does everyone talk to them selves in there head or is this the depression , I cant remember if I used to do it or not but I cant seem to switch it off its 24/7 so much so that when someone asks me something it takes me a while to focus on what they have said because my mind is already focused on what I am saying to myself? does this make sense. because of this the house seems really noisey I find it impossible and I just want to explode if the kids are talking and the tv is on and my thoughts are going I cant stand it. any comments

[Fuzzz]

This is what I experience.  Besides depression, I also have a diagnosis of ADD.  

"Normal" people must have some of this too, because everybody talks about "self-talk" and whether what we say to ourselves is positive or negative.  I remember when I was young and seeing a psychologist, I made the suggestion that what I might need was to replace ugly childhood memories with better memories that I could go over instead of the unpleasant ruminations, and the therapist agreed.  We started fishing and hiking more and did what traveling we could afford.  

But I agree that it can be very distracting.  A low dose of amitriptyline slows it down for me and takes the edge off so I'm not so irritable with interruptions.  I will never enjoy noise, however.  

[Marahheather]

well i always considered this my OCD!!!! but i do have add too.... its miserable for me.... they can be any thoughts,but, of course in my case mostly highly depressing......

to me, this is such a normal habit that to hear someone ask about it is strange because ive been doing it my whole life...

[Hensley258]

Bingo! Yea dude, that is one of the symptoms of severe depression and anxiety.

Don't worry, your not going nuts, although it will make you feel as if you are.

When Severe Depression takes hold like that, the mind is in a constant race to evaluate what is happining to it. "why do I feel this way because everything is ok?" "why are my hands and body trembling, I'm not in danger?"

Over and over, you will cycle thru worry about stuff that has no real reason to pose fear, yet it causes fear just the same. In your rational mind you know these feelings and fear are completly without merit, yet it makes no difference.

It's like the mind is stuck in the mud, yet the wheels are spinning a mile a minute.
In fact with me it got so bad that at one point I had actually convinced myself that I was going insane. Thus I had planned my own death and how I would kill myself because I felt so ******.

Don't worry, your not going nuts, you will feel like you are, but your not. If you let it go untreated though it can have some pretty devistating effects on your life.

At my worst it was so bad that I couldn't even consentrate enough to read a childs book. It will eliminate any sence of concentration you have. Can't expect the brain to concentrate when all it can do is think about how horrible it feels.

[hell1971]

Thank you all for your comments, I have been on antidepressents for 9 days now and I am definatley thinking clearer but I am buzzing my thoughts are not as I thought talking to myself they are talking like to a third party, I dont think anyone else is listning but its like I am having a conversation with someone else? I dont know what to think, I asked my friend and husband and they both looked at me a bit strange its like rehearsing a conversation I am going to have. I dont feel down anymore, I have had so much energy I have cleaned the house throughout, had a day in the garden and feel the best I have ever felt but the thinking is driving me crazy, I went out last night with a gang of friends and I couldnt speak much because I couldnt keep up with what they were saying because my voice is too loud in my head. I cant sleep without sleeping pills, the first couple of days I took them I fell asleep really quickly but kept waking up but fell straight to sleep again, now its taking longer to take affect my mind is buzzing and keep waking but I am not tired like I was two weeks ago. My mother inlaw says the antidepresents shouldnt be working this quickly.
I dont know what to think, I saw my doc but couldnt tell him about my thoughts because I felt like he would think Im going a bit mad, he thinks because I was so low the meds have mad me a little high and then they will settle and my mood will level out, I dont want that to happen because I feel good, I just dont like my mind as it is at the moment.

Does any of this make any sense

[Jasmine205]

I do it as well, always have, its like a calming thing for me, reassurance when I find something angst ridden or stressful..I try to play devils advocate inside my mind.
Right now, I can't shut my thoughts off and its making things hard for me.
I'm withdrawaling off meds though, which I am trying to do myself, without dr help.

What drugs did you get put on? If its Effexor ( get off it) thats what i had and its hell to ween off.

I hope you feel better soon!

[bernie40]

This is a subject that I was going to bring up but thought it would sound weird so i'm glad you found the courage to do so.  I have conversations in my head all the time with a third person and sometimes i have conversations with myself.  I can get very annoyed by external noise when this is happening.  Sometimes the conversations are quiet and sometimes they are loud.

I've always assumed that everyone must do it but have never dared ask in case they think i'm completely crazy.  Sometimes the conversations make me anxious and I almost talk myself into a panic if that makes sense other times it gives me confidence - its all a bit difficult to explain really.  My mind is never quiet.

I feel better knowing i'm not the only one.  

[hell1971]

Thank you, thats exactly how I feel, sometimes it is quiet but then when surrounded by noise it gets louder, this is new for me, I have always talked to myself now and again but was able to watch tv or something and switch off when but now its 24/7 and I cant concentrate, it was soo crazy before I started taking the meds now it is clearer to me that I am talking to someone else, when I talk to myself it is different, I cant explain it very well but I know that during times it speeds up and then can slow down so I can understand and slightly concentrate on something else but I am finding it really hard. I cant remember feeling well for a long time so I am still trying to remember what I felt like before the depression set in but its hard because I think I may have been depressed for a very long time. Because it is driving me crazy I asked my friend, she said it was normal to talk to yourself now and again and when she was talking I realized that its not what I am experiencing, my husband just looked at me strange and again gave me the same senario that my friend gave me so thats why I posted here. Im still not sure if this is the depression because I can only remember a little before it, all I know is that it has got alot worse over the last couple of weeks and its really the only thing that is getting me down because when someone talks to me I cant keep up with the conversation and I come off rude or stupid. I dont know wether to talk to my GP about it Im not sure he can help but really need help to know how to switch it off.

[Jlfg]

Isnt it funny that we are all experiencing the same thing, but afraid to talk about it.  And it only takes the courage of one member to bring up the subject,and now we finally get to discuss it.  My conversations in my head get confusing because I wonder if people can tell by looking at me if Im talking to myself.  And I wonder, gosh, I hope my lips arent moving.  And sometimes I don't know if I've said something outloud or not.  My husband is always asking mewhat's wrong because I have a strange look on my face, but I can't say-"Oh, my brain is just talking"

[bernie40]

I think its great that we are all talking about this to.

One problem I have with it all is when I have been having a conversation in my head and then think that i've actually had that conversation with a real person - my husband for instance or friends.  I will be very stubborn and say I did tell you because this is the conversation we had and they'll look at me and say that the conversation really didn't take place and then I get angry.  So sometimes its difficult to separate the two.

I've been doing it for as long as I can remember, I was brought up an only child and so had no siblings to talk to and I wonder if its just a habit that has stayed with me.

My husband is always saying what are you thinking or whats the matter.  He thinks its odd because he said that he can sit quietly and not be thinking about anything and he doesn't have conversations in his head.  Sometimes I try and verbalise the conversations and just looks at me real confused so I don't bother anymore.

Mind you i've always got someone to talk to even if it is myself :-)

[hell1971]

You guys have made me feel heaps better.

My husband is the same he says he doesnt think or talk to himself unless he is really nervous about something and then hes just going over stuff in his head to prepare but generally he doesnt think of anything. That would be bliss

My husband always has asked me whats wrong are you ok, I find it a little annoying because then I have to go through the same conversation in my head again, it really is talking to a third party that much I know.

It has now become such a problem though because I cant switch off, the kids might be asking me something and if the tv is on I cant focus because I find my voice and the tv and any background noise is soo distracting I cant listen to what they are saying. Last night I had to leave a friends house because her fridge was so noisy I couldnt concentrate on a conversation, it seems to take me longer to focus and process what is going on around me, this maybe my meds I guess.

[vdp]

I also have problems with noise in my head. Sometimes it's like I can hear the electric current in appliances. It has got so bad with me that I can no-longer have anything electrical in my bedroom!
Have you talked to your doctor/pdoc about it?

Depression and Anxiety can certainly be causes but it could possibly be part of something more. It seems fairly well known through research that some anti-depressants can have the ability to produce hypomania or mixed state in people that are bipolar.
It could be worth your checking this out.

[skram]

am so glad this has been brought up, i thought i was slightly potty, my hubby is very similar to bulldozers, i can ask him what he's thinking and he says "nothing", i don't get that, it is never quiet in my head!!! i can't imagine silence? i have full blown arguements in my head, with myself or another person. so glad to know i am not a complete loony!!!
S

[dippy1]

The constant brain chatter is definitely the depression, nothing more, as I got better I found there were times I could silence it but it always restarts when you least need it to! It is normal too in severe depression to be hypersensitive to all stimuli- I discovered this in spades when I was at my worst...noise was the biggest offender, couldn't bear for TV or music to be on, and went nuts if more than one person spoke at once, but also bright lights, even colours, and smells, and at time touch/tactile experiences were too much..at one point I couldn't stand being touched by my kids which caused all sorts of negative thoughts internally, but it's just HYPERSENSITIVITY and it's a normal symptom of severe depression.
Hope this helps, x

[Lorri1968]

Yes, I can difinately relate to what you are talking about.  With my experience, it's like Im talking to someone else, but in my mind.  It goes on constantly.  I become very irritated easily with things like my kids carrying on.  I used to love listening to music, but anymore I can't take it because there is so much noise going on inside my head that the outside noise or music or kids are just too much.

I never asked my doctor about it I think because I just thought it was normal.  That this is what they mean by "talking to yourself".  I also didn't mention it because when I see my doctor, I let the doctor ask the questions, and they just don't ask about this.

I have noticed recently, as my life has become extremely stressful, and my depression symptoms are raging full force, that the conversation I have with myself, is no longer words that are understandable, but more like multiple conversations or thoughts or worries all jumbled togeather to form this constant noise, if that makes any sense to you.  It's like my thoughts have become so jumbled that I can't concentrate on what Im doing or how I'm going to solve the problems I have created.

Truthfully, I don't know that I take much comfrort in the thought that there are others out there that have similar symptoms.  Whether or not I get the title of crazy is irrelivent (sp?) because no matter what you call it, there is something majorly wrong with me, that I have lived with for the majority of my life, in varying degrees and there doesn't seem to be any help for it.  The idea that there are many others out there with similar problems makes the situation seem somehow more hopeless.

Anyway, Im sorry I don't have any insight that may help your situation, but I definately do understand what you are describing.

[crazy08]

I don't know what to do. I constantly talk to myself in my head and have these long conversatons and I can't make it stop. I also picture things happening or what i want to happen. Its like I picture little sanareos in my head. I also constantly think about what is going wrong in my life and I seem to focuss in on it. I do it during the day too, but at night when I try to go to sleep it gets worse. Its so bad that it takes me for ever to go to sleep. I can't make this go away and I can't take it anymore. Im tired of doing this constantly. Have I gone crazy or is this normal? How do I make this stop?

[Mafiosi1]

I too have this problem as well, it's getting very annoying. I went to see my doctor about a month ago because I was experiencing weird symptoms like if I was high on marijuna all the time which I also quit because of the symptoms. I felt like I didn't fully come down from the a high when I woke up the next day after a day of drinking and also snorting a couple of lines of cocaine. Everything seems brighter and larger now and I also have that inner voice in my head narrating my everyday life. I went to a Psychiatrist as well but he said It seemed like I had mild depression and anxiety and maybe the drugs just threw overboard what was already going to happen. Any suggestions?

[mekim2005]

i know the noise way to well . one time i was driving and it started. i really thought i was going crazy . i wanted to drive the car into something .

[DJ873]

There is a great book i use for this titled Taming your Gremlin.

[jessy1234]

i feel so confused i never really noticed this before until about 8 months ago but all of a sudden i keep makin convasations in my head like i would see a stripy tshirt on telly then i would go to say bout zebras and if they are black with white stripes or white with black stripes then i would start singing micheal jacksons black or white song  and then i go to the kid from home alone because he sings the chorus and then i would imagine my self in the film home alone and how cool it would be. what is going on ?????  

[missli221]

im currently suffering this same thing as you guys and im scared to death. the conversations and voice in my head just started two weeks ago after smoking weed. Since then i havent felt the same. i ve been having constant anxiety attacks and with the worst attacks i have crazy thoughts that im going mad. i feel so alone in this and im always thinking to myself if im ever going to be "normal" again. i havent been told i was depressed but lately i feel like i am. i cant remember when was the last time i really laughed and felgt happiness. i feel so dead inside. Will i ever get better? WIll the voice and conversation in my head ever stop?

[kaizoku]

i always talk to myself and sometime it feel like i have 2 people in my mind and sometime when i question myself and i find it to be answer by myself as like i got second mind or something. for example when i write an essay i always stop and ask my self "hmm what next?"  and automatically i replied "how should i know!" or  "dont ask me" the thing is i didnt mean to answer it. that why sometimes i keep on talking to myself...it like conversation among two people in my head.

[steve1963a]

I have this problem very much now.  When I wake up, I am talking more loudly than usual and it takes me time to settle down.  I work at home so I am able to cope with my condition more than in an office environment, but I probably should take some medication in order to be more productive.  I think my situation became worse due to some surprises or unforeseen circumstances in my life.  I think psychological trauma contributes to this and you can't just work through the issue in a reasonable way.  That is my frustration.  It helps if you don't have too much stress on you, I think.

[rissa1991]

ive never heard anyone put it in this way before i feel exactly the same as you do. can i ask what meds uve been put on coz ive tried loads and none have worked so far

[lisaella24]

i can relate, i also have conversations in my head. it's like im talking to someone who isn't there. ill go through detailed scenarios over and over. its usualy about something that has happened in my past that I want to change.

i understand how you feel, its made me feel a little reassured knowing im not the only one.

[alex517]

Wow guys, i felt like everyone, and you guys just made me realize I was living a depression, I have no words to thank you all for your constructive comments and stories, i had no words to explain how i felt, this helped me a lot, now i can smile and my mind is clear. I hope the best for you all, thanks!!

[CkJf]

Ur thoughts and ur decision are made from ur brain, its ur spirit talking to each other, that's how god created us, to solve this problem, take a look in any form of religion, ur choice will be more clear n easier....... There will be more and more people like us, when it get to next year.. Oh by the way drugs are not helping on the decision too.

[jw623]

I can't sleep at night. My mind raceis alot sometimes I can't fall alseep intill seven in the morning I talk to my self a lot and answer my own questions. I lose attention fast Cuz my mind is racing one hundred miles an hour. And it affects my work and I get nervous. I'm only twentyfour yearsold and when I do get eight hours of sleep. Ill still feel tired as hell what is wrong with me

[jw623]

I can't sleep at night. My mind raceis alot sometimes I can't fall alseep intill seven in the morning I talk to my self a lot and answer my own questions. I lose attention fast Cuz my mind is racing one hundred miles an hour. And it affects my work and I get nervous. I'm only twentyfour yearsold and when I do get eight hours of sleep. Ill still feel tired as hell what is wrong with me

[Voltron1]

Hi Missli221,

I am going through exactly the same thing as you. Your post was over a year ago and I hope you see this, but how are you now? Are you back to normal and if so how long did this take, what did you do?

I am a 21 year old male, who before struggling with this had a great life. I play/played rugby at a very high level. My friends and family are great, I don't really have money concerns. I was so happy, everything made me smile and laugh. A therapist said I was going through depression after anxiety and panic attacks from weed. I can't stop talking to myself in my head along with a list of other symptoms.

[Reeces_cup]

I just recently stopped smoking pot and I realized that I am having these crazy conversations in my head. Without knowing. It creeps me the hell out. its like there is another person in my head carrying through with the conversations. Is this what you are going through?

[martin428]

hey Voltron, i had anxiety attacks like a month ago and it started as me being scared of my heart to stop because it would beat so fast, then when i controlled that a little bit i started getting head aches, i started to feel as if i was going to go crazy i loved to play and watch sports and now i cant do anything or watch anything without haveing negative thoughts running threw my head like what if i cant controll it what will i do....it also started on me after i was smoking weed every day for about 3years i am 18 and this worrys me...have you got any help???or can someone please help??

[respected100]

yea it does i feel the same way you do. and i didnt want to turn to meds because i felt they would have a negative effect on me. so i was looking up different methods; like mind reconstruction, cognitive therapy. look up them type of methods im looking into and thinking about breaking and going to see a therapist.

[harsht]

hey yes wat you described is happening to me . i stopped smoking weed because i was lacking in my studies , it took some time for me to build my concentration, but i too have this constant talk to myself tape in my head which goes repeatedly and repeatedly on the same things, i thought it has something to do with the weed but since other people are also experiencing the same things widout smoking, i dont know wats going on. Is there any help or way of making things mild in my brain

[Oxak]

during my childhood i was always having conversation in my mind latter in my late 20s i was diagnosed with schizoeffective disorder. i take madication, i am stable but my mind is always thinking, that was my main concern untill i start taking Glycine suppliment. 500mg changed my life, after taking all of a suden I notice i dont think anymore i can concentrate, watch tv without thinking or participate in conversation without thoughts bothering me.... my advise to all of you is you dont need to be mentall ill in order to take glycine. I highly recoment GLYCINE , its a amino acid works good, you can do your own research....

[rani198]

With me it is having conversations in my head & also I hear voices
could be one word coming continously in my head it is not Shizophrena
it is my evil sister in law doing voodoo black magic she told me & it is
so true when I ask people to do curse removal then I cannot hear any more words in my head but then the sister in law who is a grotesque big cow & is very jealous does send the voices back to my head.
Anyone having this I know it is Black Magic but would be a relief to know

[darkclouds]

sounds like OCD seraqil will help that.

[matoka64]

I talk to myself a lot, which I think is perfectly normal, we all do it.  But I also catch myself having imaginary conversations about things.  Like I imagine what I would do or say to someone in a particular situation, only I end up saying it out loud.  I don't even realize I'm doing it sometimes in private, but at least I don't do it public, thank God.  Don't know if that's schizophrenia or what, but it bugs me.  I'd like to live in the real world.

[kidnurse]

I feel bad for you all and hope you all get help for your symptoms.  Some of you brought up something I wish more young people would be warned about:  that illegal drugs can sometimes cause a psychotic break.  Please, people, drugs are not worth all the risks.

[Ohmni]

Hi there. From what you're saying, it looks a lot like you're encountering someone else speaking to you. Ok now listen carefully because I'm not joking and I'm not here to make fun of someone. From my experience, your symptoms (Sorry my bad english) are the ones of those people starting a spiritual contact with being from other dimensions. You probably have many possibilities to be a medium. Has something particular in your life happened within the last year since when your symptoms started? Could have been something painful for you too. However, it is called Psychophony and there are thousands of thousands of people in the world being able to speak to "spirits" or "entities" . Have you tried to engage a conversation with these voices? Did you make any question to them? you should.  But I tell you, if you really want to find out if its just your Ego (So, might be something healable with our medicine)  or these voices do not come from you, you MUST accept the possibility that you might be in contact with spirits from other dimensions,  (maybe someone you loved who passed away)  , and after being aware that this IS a reality, and that would mean, having faith in that (do not involve religions in here, they are really of no importance when we speak about spirits)    you have to ask these voices all the questions that pop up in your mind. start a conversation with faith in their response...  I believe you are an intelligent person, so if you will get some stunning answer, you can be sure that you have opened your channel to the multi dimensional connession. Otherwise, if the answers you get are senseless or already known by you, well than it's your ego and only then i would suggest you to keep taking medicines....  Again my friend, sorry for my bad english. I found myself on this site by accident i was searching lyrics for a song and really misclicked the site, however, I really hope with my heart that my answer can be of some help to you.  Peace be with you!

[Agro]

I had to go to a drug and alcohol school for a ticket i got a while back. One day we the whole class was just kinda talkin cus there wasnt much to do that day, i dont remember why i brought it up but, i asked our "teacher/counselor" if he ever "thought" to himself, and he just laughed and said "NO, ha i dont talk to myself!" Like i was crazy. I would like to punch him in the face now. Thank you all....

[high_off_fresh_air]

I think its totally normal! Eberybody in reality is all alone in there head, so they decide bring another person into the equation totally made, who may be better then his actions! Eg i talk to myself to calm myself down! If am getting angery second person says why you tripping for then you reason with yaself that everything is fine, Its only a problem when your second person turns bad lol

[high_off_fresh_air]

Chill your heads peeps! Like someone its youre spirit and mind conflicting or conversating, the tv has programmed our minds but not our spirit.

[bevna92]

How weird, I'm 21, from what I can remember as a young girl about 3 I've know that I've been probably thinking too much but to go and tell a friend or relative, they would think I'm mad. I've been feeling this kind of sadness for years now. I've kind of with drown myself from friends and family by bring quiet. Now that I want to talk it won't come out. Everything I want to say is trapped in my mind and won't come out. It's not a lack of confidence but something else.

[notalkinhead]

I have the exact opposite problem... is talking to your self in your head not a normal thing??? I used to do it all the time, every waking hour.. now there's nothing.. I got in here by typing: "how to get talking back in your head" on google.. I seriously can't think a bright thought anymore... I did however almost become crazy by all that talking in there, so I tried focusing on shutting the talk up.. but now it seems it's never there.. and it seems I can't do anything to help it... also I feel like I'm going stupid or something... haven't read all the posts on this subject through yet, but I will in hope of some suggestion.. if somebody has some advice for me, then please help me.. I'm lost.  

[CE13]

Hi,

I wanted to know how you are doing since you posted this in 2008. Did it get better?

I battle with this and I almost thought I was reading inside myself in your post.
what were the progressive steps you took to overcome this?

From
Cindy

[L_Lady]

Oh my gosh, yes.  Its ao distracting when I'm trying to pay attention to someone speaking to me or watching a movie,  etc.  For me I thinks its ocd and obsessive thouth processes

[rrajd]

To jlfg I feel that same way as i'm walking down the street or am in class I often feel like I am making facial expressions or moving my lips. Its like an argument with someone but no ones there i.could never figure out how to explain what was going on. I often like people can tell what's going on