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Inner monologue

(93 Posts)
Yennifer Thu 06-Feb-20 14:48:16

I learnt something very interesting today, not everyone has an inner monologue. Some of us think things through in our heads and can have conversations with ourselves while others think very differently in images and emotions and have to verbalise what is on their minds. I find this hard to believe! How do you think?

BBbevan Thu 06-Feb-20 15:40:31

I definitely have an inner monologue. Also very colourful and emotional dreams

midgey Thu 06-Feb-20 15:46:07

I was astounded to hear that some people ‘think’ in cartoons rather than words.

Yennifer Thu 06-Feb-20 17:38:39

I have heard that deaf people do not think in words which obviously makes sense, just didn't think others were the same x

M0nica Fri 07-Feb-20 09:55:19

Another with an inner monologue. It means there is at least one person in my life I can have a sensible conversation with grin

henetha Fri 07-Feb-20 09:59:33

I think I have an inner dialogue rather than a monologue as I seem to be constantly arguing with myself in my head.
The two of me don't seem to agree on anything!
I too have vivid dreams, BBbevan

J52 Fri 07-Feb-20 10:18:13

I also practice conversation scenarios in my head. I always thought I was just an ‘over thinker’. But I did think everyone did the same!
Probably it’s just as well we cannot know what goes on in others thoughts.

Acciaccatura Fri 07-Feb-20 10:56:18

I learned yesterday that, on average, we have 80,000 thoughts per day. No wonder I'm exhausted ?

Lizzle10 Fri 07-Feb-20 10:58:31

I have conversations in my head , sometimes it drives me mad I play scenarios over and over . I also have vivid dreams . I guess I just over think and analyse too much

Moggycuddler Fri 07-Feb-20 11:00:12

I discuss things with myself sometimes in my head, in words. Like "If I do this such and such will happen, but if I do this, such and such will happen."

Notthatoldyet9 Fri 07-Feb-20 11:01:12

Whether you find it difficult to believe is irrelevant as what you describe is how many, including autistics, 'think'

Rosina Fri 07-Feb-20 11:02:48

I was amazed to discover that some people don't have a 'mind's eye'. Dominic Lawson wrote an article about it; he said he can tell you that his wife is pretty, has red hair etc. because he knows that, but he cannot picture her face - or indeed anything - in his mind. I assume that he can't dream - I didn't think of that until reading some of the posts about dreaming.

Ellianne Fri 07-Feb-20 11:04:05

Yes, far too much over analysing here too, racing thoughts, dreams, nightmares the lot. I envy my friends who have a more practical nature, they take things at face value with no need for ruminating. I am cerebral by nature and in my work.

rowanflower0 Fri 07-Feb-20 11:04:52

I have always had inner monologues - but now that I have actually sat down to write that book that I always meant to write - they are proving invaluable - some of it practically writes itself!

Bathsheba Fri 07-Feb-20 11:08:27

I'm always thinking things through in conversation with myself, or imaginary conversations with others. Although I'm constantly disappointed that I never get the opportunity to use my well-rehearsed conversations as the anticipated scenarios don't happen, haha grin

Mirren Fri 07-Feb-20 11:15:52

Sometimes I wish my " inner monologue " would just shut up . Who ever she is she is far too loquacious and has a tendency to be very negative!
A bit of peace from my inner self would be well received. I am a pest !
Like others , I couldn't believe others don't have a similar experience.
My husband tells me that when he says he isn't thinking about anything that this is literal . I thought it was just a man thing to shut me up ... but I am assured he really is able to sit and not " think " .
GOK what is going on in there though !
My own head is like a blinking box of frogs with this awful woman nattering incessantly !

00mam00 Fri 07-Feb-20 11:18:35

Inner monologues, imagined conversations, thinking through imagined situations, joking with myself, vivid dreams and nightmares. I often think I ‘over think’ things. Sometimes I have to stop myself and change the subject if I finds my thoughts are going in a direction that would upset me.

Of course I find it difficult to sleep as my mind won’t shut down, I have to try all the tricks like counting backwards, thinking of 5 countries, artists etc starting with each letter of the alphabet. But my thoughts keep butting in.

As soon as I press post, I will be thinking of 50 more things I could say. I must stop now, but I know I will be thinking about this all day. Press post! For goodness sake woman.

Growing0ldDisgracefully Fri 07-Feb-20 11:19:57

Henetha, Bathsheba, Mirren, same here! I wish I could shut myself up and win the argument! grin

NanKate Fri 07-Feb-20 11:20:46

My inner monologue starts from the moment I wake to the moment I go to sleep. I'm surprised I can get a word in edge ways !

I often hear myself talking in the supermarket and if I explain to my fellow shoppers they usually say they do it too.

Minerva Fri 07-Feb-20 11:22:46

During the day I have conversations in my head most of the time. At night I wake myself up having conversations with people in my dreams but out loud. I wake and am astonished to find myself in bed and talking to nobody.

Welshwife Fri 07-Feb-20 11:25:27

Yes - I do have these inner monologues work things through in my head. I now often compose sentences I might need to say in French - that is useful because if there is a word or phrase I don’t know I look it up.

I have a very vivid minds eye too. What about dreaming OH often wakes up saying how tired he is because he has been chasing someone all night or doing jobs etc.

Lovemybed Fri 07-Feb-20 11:38:54

Like henetha I too have an inner dialogue - for much of the time,especially when I'm on my own. It's like a 'better,wiser' self advising/encouraging/suggesting.

EllanVannin Fri 07-Feb-20 11:48:34

All I can say is that I must have a hollow head . hahahaha.

Empty----that'll be right. Unless I have the power to delete smile ?

MamaCaz Fri 07-Feb-20 11:59:40

I have a monologue going on in my head just about constantly. That doesn't exactly help me to get to sleep at night, either!

Sometimes (only occasionally, thank goodness), the content of these thoughts appalls me, and I pull myself up, thinking what a truly awful person I must be for these thoughts even to enter my head, however fleetingly.

Like Welshwife's husband, I often wake up exhausted from all the racing around I do in my dreams!

EmilyHarburn Fri 07-Feb-20 12:00:01

I have inner speech which I use, amongst other things, when thinking about actions that I may wish to take, how I understand what has happened etc.

Some professional training courses increase the use of peoples inner thinking processes by keeping reflective journals etc. This is not a continuous stream of inner speech, just available when required.

I have met one or two people who do not have this ability for inner speech. The advantage seemed to me to be that they were unable to worry and so did not experience anxiety.