Is it normal to talk to yourself?

Dig into the psychological benefits of positive self-talk, and find out when it can become problematic.
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Being caught talking to yourself can feel embarrassing, and some people even stigmatize this behavior as a sign of mental instability. But decades of research show that talking to yourself is completely normal; most if not all of us engage in some form of self-talk every day. So why do we talk to ourselves? And does what we say matter? Dig into the psychological benefits of positive self-talk.
Directed by Avi Ofer.
This video made possible in collaboration with Character Lab
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[@charliemaybe]

I can talk to my self for an hour straight just pacing around a room.

[@MrChipathenIsMyDoggo]

Whenever I’m talking to myself it’s less about actually talking to myself and more like I’m making a KZbin video except it’s just in my head and I’m just speaking it out loud 😆😆😆

[@Nominal_GDP]

​@@MrChipathenIsMyDoggo Down to watch that youtube video

[@MrChipathenIsMyDoggo]

@@Nominal_GDP 😄😆

[@jasminehaliza4886]

Meeee toooo hahaha

[@chandrahasreddy1729]

​@@MrChipathenIsMyDoggo why not make one video

[@Kenny_F91]

Remember: if you talk to yourself outloud people think you're crazy. But talk to yourself on camera, you can be a youtuber.

[@nonyabizness.original]

just hold ypur phone to your ear and you're fine.

[@kaywee4200]

😂😂😂

[@lestranged]

just put an earphone in and everyone thinks you are on the phone. which for some reason is acceptable in public.

[@wongchunhua9914]

I think, talking to yourself out loud is the equivalent of screaming at someone when taking with them

[@oldcowbb]

streamer

[@IadaptsStencel]

Regarding negative self talk, there's this phrase that has helped me so much: "you would never talk to your friend like that, so don't do that to yourself. You're your best friend, treat yourself accordingly". We are so compassionate and caring and loving with those around us but forget to act that way with ourselves

[@crrseeny6207]

yeah this phrase got me out of my rut often. so true

[@arghavanjalayer1011]

yes I agree

[@KaiKaiRee]

I talk to myself all the time. Talking to myself has actually gotten me through some pretty bad and stressful times, providing a voice of reason even if I _myself_ am walking to an emotional cliff. I am also an aspiring writer and I talk to myself in character to help figure out the flow of a conversations between the characters in my stories and snippets. I do this all the time, everywhere I go. Even _if_ it's embarrassing to be caught doing so by a stranger whose looking at me like I'm crazy.

[@KaiKaiRee]

*now

[@superstar-su7fg]

I'm a bit of a writer but I play characters which I've never written ... their whole life is in my mind ..

[@MariaFernanda-qk2kn]

I do that too and I'm also an aspiring writer. Would you like to connect on social media?

[@elisabisignano9294]

I do the exact same thing for the exact same reason and yes, it's very embarrassing to be caught doing it 😂

[@rabindranathdash1376]

I talk to myself but I don't have hallucinations.I am talking sometimes as if I am vlogging even if Iam not.While I usually talk as if I am a different character just like you.That helps me become a good story writer

[@ZOCCOK]

When I am alone, I like to act like a psychiatrist who is giving advice to myself. As a psychiatrist, I am very terrified of how unstable my only client is.

[@jy6512]

This. This is true

[@Blankult]

It's funny but i think it helps a lot. I discovered many things about myself by doing that, and in some cases i managed to get better when i, as a psychiatrist, found the root of the problem.

[@freethepeople6437]

Don't know why,but this made me laugh 😂😂.

[@ninachand2075]

Feel this on another level

[@aired-downdisconnected4125]

"Did you just refer to yourself as the 3rd person ?" 😉

[@rohanmohan5125]

Ok Let's Check If I'm Normal Or Mentally Ill.

[@roshnisen3917]

This is an example of self talk

[@neicinvarsanonunicinyasa6065]

III

[@silvergamer7250]

Yep let’s do it

[@irembusrahondoroglu]

My thoughts 😂😂😂

[@silvergamer7250]

Nice I’m normal, wait no I don’t like being normal

[@younes5745]

I use a method for selftalk in order not to look strange and weird in public i use my earphones and i pretend talking with someone on the phone with a little of hand moves , this will make you more confortable with selftalk anytime and anywhere

[@Ayeyo_fontaine]

You unlocked the code

[@madeofcastiron]

that is also the method i use. that’s why i’m so grateful that wireless earbuds are invented.

[@pigshittinginmuhammadsmouth]

Sorry to say it, but you're not fooling anyone with that

[@younes5745]

@@pigshittinginmuhammadsmouth who cares ?

[@NuskyXplore]

That's also weird... 😂 When im in public i just talk to me on my mind no need to make it loud..

[@chauswriting]

I've talked to myself since I was 10 and I never told anyone in my life about this thinking they'd see me as a crazy person. Thank you for the validation!

[@acardinalconsideration824]

I’m convinced that if most people took the time to regularly have genuine, thorough conversations with themselves, this world would be a *far* better place.

[@jacobcampos2407]

👌🏼

[@darthwater999]

Are you saying that other people don't usually speak to themselves?

[@nana00037]

@@darthwater999 generally I think we tend to not want to think about certain things such as little mistakes that we make and refuse to give it its proper time of thought, and sometimes we may ignore topics that we would be better off thinking about deeply as it can help interacting with others better

[@darthwater999]

@@nana00037 and what you think when you're alone doing nothing?

[@bugjams]

Self-reflection in general would help a lot of people. Sadly I'd bet the majority of people don't really reach that point. Why think when you can keep consuming drugs and alcohol and media to fill the hole? Introspection and philosophy are boring to many. I'm not even saying anyone has to be on hippy levels of meditation or anything. But that's how people react when you tell them that spending some time lost in thought could be good for them. Maybe more people would consider why money is so important, or ask themselves why they need the newest, shiniest cars or appliances when what they have gets the job done. Or they might stop to consider their place in the universe and why we shouldn't be wasteful. But alas, that's too deep for most people. Why think about any of that, when there's a new Marvel movie out... sigh.

[@llia13]

It feels good to know that you're normal, doing a complete normal thing which people sadly perceive wrong.

[@solsystem1342]

​@@perfectogaming5240 You ok pal? If people trained you to not self talk it's ok to let those emotions out

[@halocraze9839]

​@@perfectogaming5240 cringe

[@perfectogaming5240]

@@halocraze9839 yes you are 👍😎

[@pcgaming7680]

@@perfectogaming5240 probably worst of all the trolls i've seen today

[@perfectogaming5240]

@@pcgaming7680 keep crying boy 👍😎

[@peetashmangulati7020]

I'm 17 years old and i as a kid used to talk with myself often but in covid 19 pandemic.i often talked to my friend but i started talking to my myself aloud which really increased my focus,treated anxiety....and even when i had noone to have conversation in english...i started to talk to myself in english to improve my listening and english talking skills and even if i feel depressed or there's no one to give me sanctity...then feel like..i'm enough for myself..i need noone..and that's the thing that keeps me going through the negative thoughts through positive thoughts about myself...❤❤

[@doaagamal4222]

Great job dear 👏 😊

[@RiddishreAIIMS]

same for me tooo high-five👋

[@mariaeduardadias3935]

I'm passionate about talking to myself in front of mirror, it is such a stranger and comforting experience. What's more, it help me so much in the process of learn a foreign language! I have often spending my whole day in a self-talk in english and it is helping me to getting confidence and familiarity to the language. I love talk to myself. I love my own company!

[@sindhusingh7480]

self talk provides calmness to me.... it's like telling myself about my own problems finding solution and applauding for myself when no-one else do✨

[@ralphcorneliuscastro]

you are absolutely right

[@chetan.sharan]

@@sindhusingh7480 i am just glad I am not the only one crazy here😀

[@sammedbanu8962]

here i tought i only had this syndrome

[@sindhusingh7480]

@@perfectogaming5240 Thankyou for your concern but i don't Need your kind words!

[@sindhusingh7480]

@@chetan.sharan Watch the full video.. it's completely normal

[@SKoGoMoney]

I’ll tell you what, my uncle used to always talk out loud and play out potential scenarios, thinking ahead. I once asked him (as a kid) “why do you talk to yourself?” His reply was genius… “Because it’s the only way to have an intelligent conversation!” I’ve used that line ever since! 😂

[@oz_jones]

Cheeky. I hope your uncle is doing well!

[@reazulzannah738]

A great response!

[@thereviewer5562]

i am going to steal it

[@0ptimal]

Great stuff.

[@LivingMyBestLifeIAm]

It’s the absolute truth lol

[@simangot400]

The head pats from the sock at 3:43 was way too wholesome than it should be omg

[@susannaalexanyan1345]

When I was a child talking to myself was very natural and normal for me. Growing up, it started becoming more and more abnormal and strange because of public opinion. Silent self-talks are very common activities of mine, and the question of it being normal interested me for a while. Video is very helpful and knowing that most of the people have self-talks is really helpful!

[@nairasalah7266]

I never get bored of talking to myself, even though if someone were to caught me talking to myself I’d be embarrassed, but the lesson taught from this video is that it’s completely normal and I should embrace it

[@alieldremy]

Throughout my early teenage years i was caught self talking and it was just playful comments from my sister (she teased me alot..still does) but it made me really embarrassed and i thought something was wrong w me, silly of me..teenage years were weird.

[@nairasalah7266]

@@alieldremy I used to catch my cousin talking to himself and since having conversations with yourself out load is socially frowned upon and regarded as ‘weird’ that even though I had the same exact experience as his, every time I caught him ‘doing it’ I was embarrassed of even acknowledging it or commenting about it. As if I acted like nothing happened, we will save both of us the embarrassment! I’m learning now how to embrace it and be brave enough to be curious about whatever coping mechanisms I chose to find peace.. and talking to one’s self is something I’ll be curious about having a conversation about.

[@alieldremy]

@@nairasalah7266 never really had such a conversation actually, seems really interesting..you know what the weird thing is? I still feel like this is not appropriate to talk about openly, it just doesnt make sense to me to talk about it w other people, makes me feel like a weirdo still. Cant get over this feeling

[@darknessincarnate138]

Same bro

[@kavya2050]

Hey I talk to myself loudly like if I am in stress or nervous I just say myself by my own name that it's fine everything is gonna be alright no need to worry just when I am alone I do so . And if I am in imaginary conversation when I act like any person or a celebrity I say things and I imagine that that person is talking and I can hear there voice inside my head . And also when I am reading my friend chats when i read i somewhat feel their voice in head not surely about this but maybe .It's normal ?

[@joelkirkpatrick5688]

"The way you treat [people] is what they become" Such a good quote. How you treat people matters immensely.

[@krishnashankar2675]

Including yourself!

[@Agent.J]

but thats not the reality

[@floof6896]

​@@Agent.J it is. have you tried checking half of the deadly dictators, serial killers, and ruthless criminals? some are rotten to the core, and many grew up in harsh environments which influenced what they became in the future.

[@giorgospapoutsakis5271]

​@@Agent.J your answer is really ironic according to that quote

[@The_Tormented_One]

The first thing that came into my mind after seeing it was that this quote has a lot of meme potential lmao

[@violetsky3389]

I think it's weird if u DON'T

[@Sunshine27234]

I actually enjoyed this one a lot. I am a frequent self-talker and I mostly do this when in a good mood, commenting on videos I watch and especially when I need to focus on studying. Found this really interesting, when studying and focusing/concentrating was mentioned in this video, as I had noticed this in myself years ago. Before, I knew it would be a good study session when I heard myself talking to myself. Now it is the other way around, I use talking to myself as a tool when I really need to concentrate. I will just comment what I am doing, making it sound like instructions with random positive attributes, like "and now we have to divide this value by 4 and then we will have a beautiful result". Sounds completely crazy and a lot what I am saying doesn't really make sense, but it sure does keep me focused. This is why I stopped studying at the library, because I really don't want anyone to call a doctor on me : D try this if you have problems concentrating you guys :)

[@no_enerji]

When I was younger, I was mostly introverted and couldn’t bring myself to talk to other kids, so whenever I was stuck with myself like on the school playground or alone at home I would talk to myself as I did things. Eventually, it would evolve over time to the point that my conversations with myself are so close to having one with someone else, my parents have confronted me multiple times to check if I’m actually talking to someone. I’m pretty sure they think I’m crazy. Update: I had a therapy session with myself. I think I agree with my parents. (it helped???)

[@midnightRain5175]

same!!

[@s.s.8491]

Me fr

[@no_one_watches5424]

My mom has caught me having conversations with myself many times and she always asks who I'm talking too😂😂 OMGG THX FOR THE LIKESS💯✨🤗

[@juliant3126]

@@no_one_watches5424 this happens to me too 😅

[@iche9373]

„Cause maybe I am crazy.“ - Beyoncé

[@OscarUnrated]

This is why I don’t need to tell people my problems, I’m just better at solving them with myself

[@user-yq4gi6zh4r]

Samee 🤍🤍😎😎

[@kennydidier3255]

😂😂

[@toyy2294]

Thank you for the video. It is so rare to find a content talking about self-talk. It is refreshing to see this video uploaded.

[@noudjoudboutak8509]

talking to myself changes my mood, regardless of how well or poorly the conversation goes. Sometimes it is beneficial to listen to your own thoughts, and you might even be able to solve some problems. I also believe that you will never find someone who understands you better than yourself; it's another reason why you should stay away from the negative self talk. Aside from the primary subject, I think the video is quite entertaining & creative.

[@ann4714]

Distanced self-talk has honestly helped me through a lot, with my anxiety and struggles. I'm not really much of a talker with friends and family when it comes to my problems, but talking to myself in the mirror before going to bed has regulated my emotions throughout the years. i guess that's the irony that they call "i am my own personal therapist"

[@Emanuele246gi]

​@BradynLee That's no true, I also was in this position but it takes time to find someone who wants to, there are also professions for that ;)

[@SpecterNeverSpectator]

​@@Emanuele246gi if I hire someone to listen to me I'd feel even worse I think, like when someone asks "are you okay" when you are, you begin to question yourself, you start thinking "why would someone doubt if I am okay, am I not? Is it not clear that I am? I thought I was?" or that's what I imagine could happen.

[@Emanuele246gi]

@@SpecterNeverSpectator Well those are just your thoughts, it doesn't work like that, luckily. There is nothing wrong when someone genuinely asks you that question :)

[@SpecterNeverSpectator]

@@Emanuele246gi of course, just makes you think, like a nocebo effect, even if they have good intentions, it subtly implies that I should be struggling

[@Spine223]

AYEEEEE!! lets go. it works!

[@user-kx6vn1eq4l]

I've found myself talking to me several times during the day, most of the time feels like my brain it's talking to my heart, and sometimes it's my heart talking to my brain. I can feel the difference between this two speakers, both of them are wonderful and they try to lift me up, sometimes I need compassion and that's when my heart talks to my brain to cheer me up, and sometimes I need to be grounded and that's when my brain talks to my heart, so my feelings stay stable. I love to talk to myself, because I have such interesting conversations.

[@InnerWorkGuideShobhali]

I loved the concept of 'distanced self-talk' as a stress reducer is particularly insightful. A powerful reminder of how our inner dialogue shapes our daily life and mental well-being. It's amazing to realize how the conversations we have with ourselves evolve from childhood :)

[@houssembenabdallah6599]

I have been caught countless times talking to myself (with moving hands) and I can't describe enough the weird looks I get and how embarrassing it was. So thank you TED-ED for getting in this topic. It's refreshing to know nothing wrong with that. Besides managing emotions and feelings, expressing ideas and thoughts to myself is better expressing it to another person who can laugh or take advantage of it. Also, talking to self help with learning new language. Only one problem is you don't get feedback.

[@LittleDogTobi]

Yes! I wish it weren't so stigmatized.

[@eeaotly]

Just put on a headset and you'll be covered.

[@clairee4939]

Interesting. I grew up first used BSL and family told me I was always “thinking aloud” in sign language. Sometimes I still do that home but in public only when I am thinking in English and don’t remember something 😊

[@acardinalconsideration824]

100%

[@habibanasir4364]

Exact same happens with me

[@Vaghyashree_writes]

Negetive self talk is programmed in me throughout my childhood and teenage. Recently I've been practicing positive self talk ❤ and it helps honestly 😊

[@aca4262]

😊

[@mohammadrasuli4425]

Good to hear it

[@Lavonne9870]

I know exactly where my negative self talk comes from, but this knowledge doesn't help much. I've worked on being kind to myself. It's hard to stop something you don't realize you're doing.

[@revenge8215]

@@Lavonne9870same. Good luck though lavonn, the results are worth the effory

[@jennadombroski1505]

Super proud of you ❤ I hope every day for you is progressively more and more freeing and peaceful

[@dilipaweeratunga]

When we were taught to do compassion meditation in our school, every morning, it always starts with wishing good for ourselves first. Then the exact same wishes to our parents and family, then teachers, then neighbors, friends, non friends, haters and at last to every living being.

[@omindivinoja0789]

This is what I'm doing all the time when I'm alone or at home. And now I'm wearing a mask when I go out, so I'm self talking while in public too. 😂 as an extremely introverted person, this is the only thing that makes me feel relaxed and reminds me that I'm not alone & lonely. I love myself ❤❤

[@dragon2knight]

Are you kidding? Talking to myself is the best conversation I have all day! My thoughts are clearer and I feel much more centered every time I do it, which is daily. It's how I start all of my meditation sessions and it's the key to me not choking the life out of my very inconsiderate neighbors in my apartment building 😉There's nothing wrong with doing this at all, I couldn't more highly recommend it 💕

[@Cyber_Engineer]

There's nothing better than a conversation with a smart person isn't it? :)

[@SunitaSharma-ij7xx]

"Talking to myself is the best conversation" Can't agree more ... that's just what I say to myself ...I talk to myself almost about everything and it helped me understand myself better. No one ever told me or taught me to do so yet it's a childhood habit it's gonna remain for life Ig lol also I'm an introvert

[@levi_no_fidget.spinner]

Its true when you realize you only have yourself so you start to look out for yourself and give yourself advice and motivating speeches. Yes i do that and trust me it helps. As an introvert, self talk is a norm to me because I've been doing it since i was a child and after growing up i engage myself in positive self talk and its really comforting sometimes

[@BaileyNHailey233]

Everyone has got self talking

[@priyanshisharma5556]

Absolutely

[@EnkhlenGalbayar]

Thank you so much! This is very informative and I like the way that at the end of the video, it suggests another video. I'm literally following down the path and watching every content. Videos are short, easy to understand, and logically structured! I was really stuck in one situation, but now I think I can get out of it. Again, Thank you so much!

[@tbbtbt1262]

The quote in the beginning is so eye opening and deep for me. I'm someone who struggles to understand people's behavior towards me and it's like millions of my problems have been solved with that qoute. "the way you treat people is what they become"

[@ralphcorneliuscastro]

Am I the only one who feels comfortable speaking English fluently when I talk to myself only without someone noticing me inside the house? I, as a Filipino, do self-talk all the time that became from my habit to my normal way of living life because (despite English was the first language my parents and the media and books taught me) I also felt very lonely without friends to talk to about things we can relate to each other because they live far away or any other circumstances; as a result, I tend to imagine myself talking to a friend I feel being close with. In reality, that does not happen to me. It happened to the point many times my family would notice my self-talk actions at home and felt weirded about it. However when I'm living my solitary life with no one watching, I feel very comfortable expressing what I want to say but only to myself. :) I realized too that talking to myself was the key to unlocking my special gift of speaking English fluently.

[@Blankult]

I'm brazilian and only learned english through self talking, the difference is that i do it entirely in my head. I think self talking is a great way to learn any language, it's an easy way to practice without the potential awkwardness of talking to other people. My accent is pretty convincing even though i never spoke to another person in english.

[@martinacocca4225]

I'm italian and I also always talk to myself in english

[@emmavrijburg6676]

lmaooo so true! sometimes i self talk in english even when nobody else is listenig

[@Just_Ants]

Same thing! English is not my first language, yet is the one I talk the most internally... (yet I live in a Spanish speaking country 😅)

[@AlexxForest]

I speak English, and I'm from America, but most of my self talks involve me speaking with an Australian accent, mostly just because it feels more natural to me. I never speak with the accent in front of other people (sometimes I sneak a sentence or two with the accent to see if someone picks up on it, and nobody seems to notice), but I almost exclusively speak to myself in that accent.

[@user-ug8kq2rt3m]

Actually, I feel better and more confident when talking to myself, especially in some difficult situations. It seems like a dose of medicine allowing me to regulate my emotions. Because when I'm stressed, my thinking is cloudy. It also helps me understand and sympathize with myself more.

[@yakobsoulstorm5187]

I’ve always found talking to myself to really help with working through moral and social problems I’m having. You have to actually process what’s coming out of your mouth and deal with all of it.

[@LuvThyMind29]

Growing up as an introvert, it really helped me to develop better speaking skills and to communicate more comfortably with others.

[@iche9373]

Use nicotine patches to deal with your stress

[@yakobsoulstorm5187]

@@iche9373 That’s a bad idea.

[@iche9373]

@@yakobsoulstorm5187 why?

[@shantelygarcia3650]

I'm happy to live in a home where my self-talking is encouraged. My parents were happy that I did that, even telling me to use it to my advantage when coming up with a story or gaining a new skill! 😊

[@krysd18]

I am an introvert so talking to myself is pretty much a norm. I talk to myself out loud as if I were to be having a conversation with another person (like on the phone). There are few people I can talk to about my interests and what I am thinking so having a fake conversation helps me organize my thoughts, emotions, and makes me feel better about not having anyone to talk to at the moment. My family thinks it's weird but it brings me comfort. Additionally, I find the most effective way on how to explain certain things to others if I have already talked about it out loud to myself. It's like proof reading an essay. Thanks for this video! 🙂

[@nykasa]

The saame once my brother told me is it difficult talking to yourself?

[@shineeteentop24]

oh my god. I'm not alone! I absolutely have these fake conversations as well. I don't have many in-person friends who share my interests. So I talk about them with myself when commuting sometimes 😅

[@AbcIHateYou3]

Been doing the same thing for a few years now. It's not always healthy though, sometimes I catch myself having an argument with a friend or someone in my head, and have to remember that how I'm imagining they'd respond probably isn't right

[@nykasa]

@@AbcIHateYou3 sometimes i really wanna to quiet imagining things like that and talking with myself and be outgoing and sociable cuz i think I'm really crazy or mentally ill 😭

[@sbdreamey]

same, seriously.

[@brandonborst6550]

I don’t just have internal monologues, I also have full on hypothetical conversations on the daily. If anyone saw it, they ‘d think I was crazy. The difference is, I know I’m talking to myself, and also know there is no one else there. It’s when you actually think someone else is there, that it becomes a problem.

[@bookworm234]

Litteraly I thought it just happens to me.... Even when I am engaged in different activities I still talk to myself almost all the time.... And talk as if I am talking to someone else...

[@user-cs8sv4mn6i]

Amen to that Brother.

[@thenovicenovelist]

I work in radio and a lot of us in this field talk to ourselves. I walked in on a coworker doing it and he felt embarrassed and I told him I did the same thing. My boss told me he once heard a former employee screaming at someone and went to the studio to see who the employee was screaming at. Turns out, the employee was screaming at himself for messing up on something.

[@di_wn_]

Same. Some people really think I'm crazy... That's why I started to think if it is ok or not. But I also know I'm talking to myself.

[@thelordcommander5]

I do the same thing and often have whole Ted-Ed talks at home😂 I also am aware that I do this, and because of poor soundisolation in my home, I try to decrease my volume to mumbling or one-on-one conversation/regular phonecall to not distress my neighbors.😂

[@deyvidribeiro4221]

That's a great advice: be kind to yourself! It's funny - not to say sad - how sometimes we can be so kind to people around, but way too hard on ourselves.

[@udaychaple8715]

I was just wondering about this issue with myself, and found this video, now I feel relieved It actually helps the mind

[@TojiFushigoroWasTaken]

I kept failing in math in my hs despite putting in the work. It came to the point where i used to feel anxious whenever i saw math equations because they reminded me of my failure. Oh a whim i started self talk when working on math just to calm myself down, gradually this seriously helped me figure out several stuff.....went from barely passing to getting 91 points in it at my graduation (probably the biggest achievement in my life lol)

[@Fairymairy123]

I am going through the exact same thing right now i talk to myself in my head while solving it so that i stay calm

[@HughJass-jv2lt]

Way to go Mr Nutjob! ❤😜❤ _(seriously.... good job!)_

[@uni_teto]

through most of my life, i have always done self talk out loud to an invisible audience as if i'm a streamer. i've always felt strange about it, especially considering my various hand motions and exaggerated facial expressions, but this made me realize I'm not alone. it's really helped me sort out my thoughts and feel more confident

[@Erudessa22]

I pretend I'm teaching an audience how to clean, narrating as I go. Helps me organize without getting distracted and figuring out ideal configurations

[@user-he8dh1ou7n]

Haha same, i talk to myself aloud in front of the mirror, it just helps to force myself to take a different perspective than my current

[@kofabillion]

Whenever i play a game, I talk to myself and feel like im a youtuber too lol

[@superstar-su7fg]

Yes .. I relate to u !! I narrate my daily day , explain my worries and talk my mind ..

[@angelicajessicagomes2002]

Yess!!! 100% relate!

[@risistor318]

I talk to myself all the time. It comforts me, helps me organise my thoughts and work how how to approach difficult situations.

[@marff_73]

For me, self-talk is something that I'll always need. It's not because I don't have any friend or close people to talk with. With me myself, i can discuss and talk about anything i want. Now, it feels like I'm discussing and talking to my other side of myself (i know it sounds kinda wierd but that's what I think haha). It also helps me solving many of my problems, also makes me feels better when I feel sad, dissapointed, etc.

[@tammzy65]

For a long time I was self-conscious about my self-talk because I can't help but vocalise my thoughts out loud but I didn't want anyone to think I'm a weirdo. So glad to finally get validation that, not only it's perfectly normal, but healthy with clear benefits :)

[@milaliah]

THANK YOUU omg me too 😭 i’ve been doing it since i was little and it just helps me decipher and vent my thoughts like let me be !!

[@facetubetwit1444]

you can still be a weirdo and still do normal thing to ya know. this justification doesn't stop you from being a weirdo.

[@tammzy65]

@@facetubetwit1444 ?? What are you on about?

[@geneivy]

You are certainly not alone in this. And maybe someone will think you're a weirdo, but really why should we try to make a good impression on every random stranger? I think we should let them think whatever they might think.

[@tammzy65]

@@geneivy very true!

[@infinitevoid2964]

4:20 CBT is my favorite psychological treatment

[@cihloun]

Ye... right...

[@NatDaw-je6wb]

Yeah, just dont get physical...

[@marshallnews4197.]

Each moment, a conversation is going in my mind. Even when I am talking to a real person, I think, guess and discuss the responses of the other person with my own self-consciousness.

[@NicoleBarden-Writer]

I love self talk especially since I stated Internal Family Systems Therapy and have learned about my parts. They are so insightful, aware, and engage me in ideas I don't think I would of thought of. It is amazing when you get your parts working with you and not against you. I know since my one part has become unburdened and has started writing, that I am able to look at situations from all angles and not just react to what is happening.

[@minhmeo9506]

I’m always talk to myself as a way to self-healing and find out ways to escape real-life problems, but all my relative used to think that I have some mental issues, so serious to the point they nearly success in bringing me to hospital. And thanks TED with this vid, now I have the perfect weapon to counter-attack 😂

[@HAHAd2]

If your relatives think you have mental issues then you might have mental issues

[@obadzikjordsson7361]

​@@HAHAd2 That is such an awful thing to say. Don't you dare gaslight OP. You are very unintelligent. OP, thank you for sharing your experience. I am sorry for what you went through. You are good the way you are :)

[@HAHAd2]

@@obadzikjordsson7361 real and true

[@srustimishra9]

😂😂😂 good luck 🤞

[@Agent-ie3uv]

Mental 🤣

[@emilnavod67]

One thing I've noticed is after i read a book or binge watch a TV series, my inner dialogue sounds like a conversation from that TV series/ book

[@nxsyya]

Absolutely! After reading a book, especially a "fancy" book with "harder" English, I catch myself talking to myself in the type of language used in that book.

[@nascentnaomie]

That’s it! I’m taking up juggling! Thanks for the insight into primacy and recency. It really helped me understand better. ✨

[@KirikomiMoon]

That's good to know! I used to be worried that my self-chatter was indicative of some disorder, but knowing now that it's as common as rainwater makes me feel at peace! c:

[@werul]

I practice distanced self talk every single hour of the day. Mainly bc I have no one else to talk to, so 2 years ago, I began talking to myself both internally and out loud on purpose about things I would want to talk with other people so I wouldn't feel so lonely. Over time, I was talking to myself like that in most thoughts I had, and now its become the normal way I process information. Its like I have someone there with me to talk to all the time, that someone is me.

[@cloudynights3]

This is sort of similar with me, Im alone a bit so I self talk alot. So when I live my daily life it translates to me muttering things to myself while Im walking to get lunch etc

[@user-ds2pr4wq7t]

Can you talk with me? I want anybody to help me in the learning of English especially if you’re the native speaker, I’d be very grateful.

[@eeaotly]

I heard somewhere that the most intelligent conversations are those with yourself.

[@SophiaTheDork]

As someone who is socially anxious/not always good at talking with people, I do the same thing! I'll have conversations with myself as if I had a best friend in my brain and talk about whatever topic pops into my mind.

[@rinkukumar-tk8jm]

​@@user-ds2pr4wq7t Lets talk

[@momo7gato]

Finally, we can put this discussion to bed! Having been continuously ostracized for being a self-talker, I am glad that it is considered "normal". I have been accused of being a little batty because of it.

[@perfectogaming5240]

That’s because it’s not normal, boy.

[@Mansory811]

I think its more about how you self talk. If you literally make discussions with yourself, that cant be normal, but for example talking about your daily expierience i wouldnt say that this isnt normal

[@Mansory811]

@@smeggiamagarwine....... found the Schizophrenic

[@The_Tormented_One]

​@@perfectogaming5240 Bro nobody gives a flying f lmao.

[@perfectogaming5240]

@@The_Tormented_One apparently you do, boy

[@rocovalerorodrguez1838]

It is true! I've been practicing talking to myself in the mirror with gentle words and almost instantly I reintegrate myself when I'm feeling anxious or having negative thoughts about myself

[@TrapisYT]

I must confess that I had not previously been aware of talking to myself (which I do every day), and I can assure you that in this way one can understand oneself much better. I recommend it

[@luname2356]

As an introvert I talk to myself all the time and my ''talks'' are pretty long at that. But it's not as if I respond to myself back and forth as if there was someone else in the room. The video said it perfectly, I just voice my thoughts. I'm an overthinker. Talking out loud lets me make sense of all the mess that's in my head. I also don't get distracted as often and it lets me develop my ideas fully. Most importantly, I don't get bored because I'm always in my company and it helps me deal with anxiety and low self-esteem. I always have something to think about and be critical about. You're definitely not weird for talking to yourself.

[@poetic_videos]

Same here

[@Gu1Bys]

On the same boat as you. I definitely relate to "talking out loud lets me make sense of all the mess that's in my head". In parallel, I always compare my inner monologue to be of a turbulent sea, as if a bunch of ideas are being thrown at me constantly, with no pauses. There are exceptions to it, but that's the mainly reason I voice my thoughts.

[@shivaprasadmallikarjunaiah3751]

As an introvert, I can fully relate to that. I do talk to (or should i say "within") myself a lot, a lot of times to get a clarity or rehearse what I would say during the actual discussion with the other person. Sometimes it helps me bring out the solutions by having a imaginary conversation with other person, without actually talking to him/her in person. For this, the other person is someone who you are very familiar, like a friend or spouse, that you have interact a lot and know him/her very well ..so, its like getting his thoughts in your mind.

[@Gu1Bys]

@@shivaprasadmallikarjunaiah3751 Duuude I do that too! Sometimes I imagine a hypothetical situation where I'm debating with someone, then I take a guess at what they would say and what I would say back, in case that really happens or just for the sake of it. It's pretty entertaining actually, 'cause I mostly come up with some kinda dramatic discussion, even though it never happens lol

[@snowflak6173]

Same boat man, same boat.

[@franciscodeguzmanjr.5959]

Self-talk has helped me understand situations in order to avoid doing something irrational due to stress and anxiety. But it also means I tend to feed my introverted self since I'm more dynamic in self-talk when I'm alone in a room. It also helps me plan certain things. It's just a challenge though that I tend to go off-topic with myself, which then I sometimes have to remind myself to stay in topic during the self-talk.

[@AlexxForest]

I go off topic a lot too when I do this. Tangents galore. I sometimes even forget what I was originally talking about.

[@vah_nessa]

@@AlexxForest same here 😂

[@user-pj1yf2kd2q]

I always knew this. When I talk to myself, I sometimes find it easier to come up with solutions to a problem I might be having. Because it kinda makes my brain open up and suggest stuff that wouldn't normally surface up otherwise.

[@TamNguyen-cd3ds]

I talked to myself a lot, but I thought it was really weird when I talked out loud and attracted a lot of attention. In the past, I always pretend played by myself and created lots of stories in my mind. I think it's okay if our self conversation is positive and pushes us towards obstacles, but my inner voice sometimes criticizes myself and aggravates the situation. So, now I try to observe the problems in every aspects and think more carefully before making a decision by listening to my inner voice...

[@MsHarmony-qd7mx]

Growing up as the only child, I got used to talking to myself. I thought it was weird but at the same time it felt normal. Listening to this video is comforting and reassuring. I feel better knowing I'm not strange or the only one doing this. 😁

[@kayenjee]

Only child here and same.

[@TheRealDeal130]

Introverted third child, who suffered extreme trauma in childhood and adulthood. Self-talk helped me survive and thrive.

[@khanhhalevu4975]

i am also the only child so i understand your feelings ;[[[

[@JesseFred]

This video is so comforting! I have depression, severe anxiety, autism and ADD - and I also have a physical disability that severely limits my movement (CIDP, my immune system is constantly destroying my nerves, I've had it for 12 years). Because of all of that, I've become housebound. For the last 9 years I had a cat who was my best friend and only company, and I'd spend all day talking to him. He was everything to me, so when he died in december 2022 I lost everything and I've never felt more alone. Since then I've been talking to myself all day long, and I was very worried that it was too weird. At least now I know that I'm not "crazy"!

[@Sebastian37s]

Nice cutie Kittie (profile photo) Hope you the best, friend ❤ I'll pray for you, no matter you like it or not, but I'll pray 🙏

[@JesseFred]

@@Sebastian37s thank you, I appreciate it a lot 💜

[@Maniacc007]

​@@JesseFred Hey..hope you are doing great. Just get on social media if you feel al9ne😊

[@iche9373]

How about trying keto diet and intermittend fasting to cure your depression, severe anxiety, autism and ADD?

[@pigandbobshow9043]

hope your doing good and 2023 is finding you well 😊

[@ahen8615]

Thank you. I always do self talk on my bike. Sometimes it felt a matter of concern for my mental health but after this video I'm really happy to know that I am normal. Thanks again for such content.

[@Baka-mx4yc]

On your bike? Now that’s dangerous..

[@PsychRealmExplorers]

It's essential to know that self-talk is entirely normal and common. In fact, many people engage in it regularly. It serves various purposes, such as organizing thoughts, gaining self-awareness, and reducing stress. So, if someone thinks self-talk is abnormal, they can rest assured that it's a natural and healthy aspect of human cognition. 🗣️💬

[@nathanebluepanda8207]

As someone with severe Depressive, I thank you for pointing the anxiety part. It really troublesome when mind is flooded with intrusive negative thought.

[@dshepherd107]

I offer only a humble suggestion because it has helped many with the same problem. KZbin Patrick Teahan

[@iche9373]

Do a keto diet to cure your depression

[@iche9373]

@The Funny If I don’t say „cure“ they won’t even try it.

[@jenkathefridge3933]

​@The Funny just report there comment for misinformation 😊

[@helenaduarte60]

​@@iche9373 lmao

[@aporifera]

One thing I've noticed in school is that when there's a problem I don't know how to solve, especially a math problem, explaining it to myself out loud is very helpful in straightening out my thoughts.

[@Ali-gb5dl]

Definitely, not just math for me when any complicated and big problem face me in life i always talk to myself and anliyze it by explaining it to myself and saying to myself what am I going to do about it, it is so beneficial

[@eeaotly]

Actually, this is one learning technique.

[@rebecca4680]

That's a great learning technique! I've always heard about explaining a concept to someone else, if you can explain it then you know it. Talking yourself through the steps is like that, if you explain all your steps to yourself and it makes sense then you're probably right!

[@-WhatTheActualHay-]

Same!

[@lepeshka_7423]

I honestly wanted to shed a tear at the last words. Where did you say that we need to be kinder when we chat with ourselves...

[@j_forjuejue]

I watched this video the night before my interview. I was asked in the interview about handling stress so I thought about this video and gave my answer. The interviewer was so interested in my talk and showed me a smile. She was strict to all candidates and I saw her smile. I got positivite feeling thanks TED_Ed.

[@Stratelier]

Any time somebody is about to make a joke about "talking to yourself", I simply call it "thinking out loud". Works every time.

[@ItoeKobayashi]

I remember back in school, a fellow student caught me thinking my to-do list out loud. They looked at me like I was an alien from another planet and asked me what I was doing. I explained that I was saying it out loud to remember it better, but they still looked at me like I was crazy. I actually felt bad for them in that moment. Somewhere along the line, someone took away that tool from them by teaching them it was "crazy talk".

[@tangeryoongine]

I love how Ted-ed can talk about a complex subject and turn it into something simple for my brain.

[@akanksha_jha255]

When u keep saying something to yourself...it gets into your subconscious mind really well. For instance, if you are upset about a particular thing and u keep telling yourself "everything is going to fall in the right place" nany a time....this eventually makes u feel better even uf the issue is not solved. So that's how important a self talk is.... cause no one's gonna tell u the same thing multiple times other than yourself... I have been doing self talk since childhood days... and I can vouch for the fact that it works wonders.❤

[@Hiro_Trevelyan]

Anyone else got really relieved when she says it's normal at 0:44

[@Sam.Sam_]

Yep

[@-WhatTheActualHay-]

yeah

[@srijanraghavula]

I write to myself in obsidian daily notes and it gives me a lot of relief allowing me to create space in head by replacing emotions with productive thoughts

[@pranitnaresh3591]

thank you for this video, just now I realised that I was excessively engaged in negative self talk.

[@lightindarkness695]

Everyone talks to themselves when they are alone. It helps express your thoughts aloud. It’s completely normal!

[@gamemaster4947]

I was always concerned about this because whenever people catch me, they’re concerned. I do my best problem solving when in self conversation, so this is a relief. Sometimes I’ll talk to myself for over an hour.

[@bruh-xm1sj]

Fr my mom thinks I’m crazy! I have adhd and I’ll walking around in circles talking to myself 😅 I can see why I look crazy to her

[@mahjabeen5835]

So, here's the thing, if you talk out loud, people will think you are crazy (even though they do the same), so, just take out your phone, bring it close to your ear, and talk as much as you want, no one will judge you 😁😌😉

[@KhaledWH12]

I talk to myself all the time. I trued to stop many times but couldn’t because I feel bad about it. I guees I just need to make it positive self-talk instead of negative. Thank you ted ❤

[@luvnatexo]

I’m alone most of the time and talk out loud constantly. as if I’m talking to a camera or someone in the room, who isn’t there. I ask questions, make banter, etc. I can, and oftentimes do, this for hours. just by myself. It can range from having philosophical debates, talking about funny memories from my past, existential conversations about the universe. anything that pops into my head, really.

[@crownedone200]

same😅

[@unaincreibleroca3427]

me too, kind of

[@spanishead2426]

Same

[@larisachan1787]

Talking to yourself even aloud is strange to others but its really helpful. It helps to organize thoughts , clear your confusion, relief youe negetive emotions...it has a lot of cognitive benefits.

[@xantishayde-walker4593]

I'm pretty sure it's related to the phenomena that removing audible distractions while trying to concentrate on finding something (like a certain building while driving) helps you to better focus on finding the place. You're freeing up the verbal processing function of your brain to rehash (either verbally or internally) the directions to help you find it. It really does work. Good to know that me talking to myself doesn't make me *that* crazy. Lol!

[@marolil]

Actually I don't really understand if you find that talking to ourselves is normal thing and I do ,I find it normal too and others do the same , we all know that it's normal and we all talk to ourselves so who are these people that we are afraid of why we are afraid and feel not normal while they do the same 🚶

[@astra8372]

@@marolil maybe some people don't do that, maybe they pretend to not do that. I know some people try to feel superior over other people because of silly reasons, like age or gender, so maybe talking to yourself is another thing they feel superior about because they must be so much better people if they don't do that, right?

[@tripmode_jayy]

i talk to myself everyday fr, just open thoughts runnin throughout my mind i start speakin to myself n start feelin better… idk is summ bout talkin to ones self that makes me realize who i actually am

[@user-wf1qj9ch5c]

really loved this video! This video has been a help to me, because I am a frequent self-talker in whatever I do. I either isolate myself into my Mental Neural Space (Mind Palace) in imagination to talk, or wither talk to myself out loud at certain times, but sill maintaining the same kind tone the video mentioned.

[@yakobsoulstorm5187]

I don’t have an internal monologue. Ideas and concepts just sorta float around in my head. But when I’m alone, I’ll talk out loud to myself. I’ve found that it allows me to process complex stuff much more easily and work through problems. My mum used to tease me about it a bit, mostly harmlessly, but I still felt embarrassed. Good to know I’m at least mostly normal.

[@sheepcommander_]

I was hoping this vid would cover having a lack of inner monologue but it basically didn't

[@uk4725]

This video confuses between self talk and inner monologue, self talk can be non verbal also.

[@natashambulo3510]

Ah someone else without an inner monologue. It's also a reason why I talk out loud too. Besides of course the mild social phobia I had when I was young

[@monikawrona7227]

I have something similar, it's just not random thoughts, but more like one giant story.

[@yakobsoulstorm5187]

@@monikawrona7227 Pretty sure that's an internal monologue.

[@eliplayz22]

The last line at around 4:55 is awesome

[@angwymeow100]

when i started changing my self talk to be more comforting and accepting it felt so fake and exhausting, like starting a new habit, now it feels almost natural and i noticed i improved my mood and the way i deal with negative emotions. i even wrote letters to myself (younger, future, me rn) because of therapy lol it helped a lot

[@rafaelavieira620]

An observation about the way I self-talk: I do it in english, which is my second language, so it's easier to express my emotions in a language that I don't feel emotionally conected to. So I distance myself even further from the issue and put some sense into my emotional side (that does not mean I'll dismiss or neglect my emotions, it's just an easier way for me to deal with them, and I still have to say it in my mother tongue in therapy so I'll spare myself the panic till then)

[@6v318]

Liked cause it reminded me of the time I played table tennis, so many players talked to themselves in the middle of the match, even scolding themselves loudly sometimes. Was kinda amusing to me. Good days. Edit: wrote this comment in the beginning of the video, the tennis illustration at 3:14 makes so much sense now wow.

[@chrisb8698]

3:05 how did they get actual footage of me playing tennis?!

[@clementeen]

I am happy I youtubed this. I always record voice notes to myself on walks and talk to myself about things on my mind. It’s really helped me. Glad to know I’m not crazy and infact benefiting myself

[@hamka4209]

I started distance self talk on my junior high school due to circumstances but i can only do it with the English language (For information English is not my mother tounge) With different languages it helps me visualize another person so i feel like i am having a genuine conversation. It feels great knowing i am not the only one out there in the world that does this!

[@dakshha8341]

I always thought that self-talk was a bad habit which I have,and whenever I'm caught by my parents or my sibling talking to myself,I'm QUITE embarrassed.The reason why I talk to myself is mostly because I'm pretty bad at expressing myself and self-talk also helps me to understand about what's going on in my mind

[@10228-hjw]

as you also saw in the video, self talk is not something to be embarrassed about.. so why don't you self talk with positive word instead of expressing yourself pretty bad?

[@dakshha8341]

First of all,thanks for this kind message,i appreciate it and ofcourse I'll try my best to talk positive of myself Anyways,have a great day -by a random stranger

[@Chrono..]

Do you self-talk loud? I have never been caught by anyone while doing this because I always speak in my head or else I just move my mouth, maybe whispering a little when i'm alone.

[@dakshha8341]

I mostly move my mouth and i use ALOT OF hands while talking and sometimes even whisper maybe that's why I've been caught a few times

[@Nosewrecky]

This practice dragged me out of a really dark place a couple of years ago. Helps me to think about how i would treat a loved versus how i treat myself. You're supposed to love yourself!

[@ainsley.cotton.05]

Whoever did these animations did a great job! I was giggling at it the whole time.

[@geordieghoulette7142]

Its comforting to see a lot of other only children who hold full conversations with thin air 😂 ive freaked out a few people whove walked in on me narrating what im doing or recalling a story/event as if someone is listening 😅

[@hakimdiwan5101]

I don't self-talk much and never loudly but it doesn't take much for my inner critique to show up whenever I goof up. Over the years while battling depression I adopted positive self-talk through affirmations. Positive affirmations drastically reduced negative self-talk and when I goof up, most of the time instead of berating me it now soothes me. I highly encourage people who are suffering from that harsh critical noise inside head to adopt positive affirmations. Talk to yourself the way you would talk with your loved ones or your friends, it will help you alot.

[@theFalcon_1]

Its like every second pwrson in the world is suffering from depression

[@hakimdiwan5101]

@@theFalcon_1 Please come straight to the point.

[@bamboo___]

@@theFalcon_1 okay and?

[@thatguy5233]

@@theFalcon_1 i mean... it's just related to the topic of the video. go watch a game of e.g football, and you'll feel like "everyone loves football"

[@hope-.]

I'm in love with these psychology and self enlightenment videos lately. Seriously, it's helping humanity since mental health and our brain are something we understand least about and stigmatize the most. Thank you, team TedEd. We appreciate you.

[@TejaKarlapudi]

whenever i feel low or need some clarity on something, i go out for a walk and talk with myself. it helps me a lot.

[@emikemi05]

talking to myself is normal for me. I start to do it out loud whenever I'm alone. But many years ago I made a deal with myself: I'll be kind to myself. To be honest, this strategy is really helpful in every day life and it makes your mind your comfort zone