Alice,
I frequently drift into talking to myself when alone or even when walking
on the street. Is this healthy? I find that so long as I don't talk for a
long time, it leaves a good effect on me. However, sometimes it's just a
sub-conscious way of wasting time. Should I actively try to stop myself
from this self-talking, or should I let myself "be natural"? I am
twenty-four!
—Self-Talker
Dear Self-Talker,
Most people talk to themselves quite regularly, even when walking down
the street; but, it is primarily done silently so it's not evident to
onlookers. Whether or not we talk out loud, or silently, when we talk to
ourselves, we are processing our thoughts, solving our problems, or just
deciding what we will eat for lunch that day.
Some people have difficulty in making the transition from speaking to
themselves out loud when they are alone, to speaking silently when they
are in public. This is purely an issue of societal norms. Speaking to
yourself out loud is not unhealthy behavior, but it does run counter to
what is considered normal in American society. You can either try to
speak to yourself silently when you're in public, or you can continue
talking out loud and risk some stares — your choice!
- Alice
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Talking to yourself
