There are some cases where talking to yourself can be a sign of a mental health condition. Muttering and speaking random sentences out loud could be a sign of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia affects many people worldwide. It's more common in young people when they're going through major transitions in their life.
What mental disorder makes you talk to yourself? Self-talk can be a symptom of a number of mental illnesses. It can be a sign of an anxiety disorder, depression, PTSD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. More severe mental illnesses associated with self-talk include schizophrenia and psychosis.
Some call it self-talk. Others refer to it as inner dialogue, inner monologue or inner speech.
It turns out that people with schizophrenia are actually hearing their own voices in their heads. This is due to a phenomenon called subvocal speech, which most of us experience in a slightly different way. Have you ever thought so intently about something that you subconsciously said it out loud?
Do you talk to yourself? Rest assured, the habit is completely within the norm — and can even be beneficial. “Yes, research shows that talking to yourself is not at all 'crazy' and that, in fact, it is a normal human behavior,” clinical psychologist Carla Marie Manly, Ph. D.
Cognitive Disruption
This theory suggests that people may talk to themselves out loud due to cognitively disruptive events that are often brought on by stress or other similar events. For example, feelings of anxiety or obsessive-compulsive tendencies can create cognitive disruptions linked to increases in self-talk.
There are some cases where talking to yourself can be a sign of a mental health condition. Muttering and speaking random sentences out loud could be a sign of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia affects many people worldwide.
A study by Kornreich and colleagues found that people with bipolar disorder were likelier to talk to themselves during manic episodes than during depressive episodes or when in a euthymic (normal) state. The researchers suggested that self-talk could be used as a marker for the presence of manic symptoms.
Still, self-talk can occur in people with specific mental health conditions such as schizophrenia. But though a person with schizophrenia may appear to be engaging in self-talk, they're more likely responding to auditory or visual hallucinations associated with the condition.
Negative self-talk that seemingly has no off button can be a less obvious symptom of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). What can happen is a client has a fear that they are a bad person, unworthy of their job, an inadequate parent, etc., and intrusive thoughts about their failings can spin out of control.
Unfortunately, most people with schizophrenia are unaware that their symptoms are warning signs of a mental disorder. Their lives may be unraveling, yet they may believe that their experiences are normal. Or they may feel that they're blessed or cursed with special insights that others can't see.
Negative self-talk is often experienced by people who have depression or anxiety. The constant negative chatter can be overwhelming and difficult to break out of. Negative self-talk can make it more difficult to deal with chronic pain. It can also affect a person's sexual confidence and body image.
Bipolar disorder, also known as bipolar affective disorder, is a mood disorder. It used to be called manic depression. Bipolar disorder can cause your mood to swing from an extreme high to an extreme low. Manic symptoms can include increased energy, excitement, impulsive behaviour, and agitation.
Recognizing bipolar disorder isn't always easy. The main sign of bipolar disorder is extreme mood swings that go from emotional highs to emotional lows. Manic episodes cause people to seem: Very energetic.
Signs of Bipolar Disorder
Unpredictable and extreme mood swings. Going from being wired, talkative, and jumpy (manic episode), to feeling melancholy and depressed (depressive episode) Co-occurring disorders, such as alcohol or drug abuse, eating disorders, anxiety issues, and ADHD.
Many times the voices can start gradually and are often described as a vague or fleeting impression of hearing your name called or people talking about you. People with schizophrenia can hear a variety of noises and voices, which often get louder, meaner, and more persuasive over time.
If they're experiencing severe symptoms, they may be impossible to understand. They might have “word salad” — a jumble of words thrown together in nonsensical order. Or they might just choose to stop talking altogether. Often, people with schizophrenia have anosognosia.
Kids and adults with ADHD may also monopolize conversations and talk excessively. 2 Some parents might refer to it as "diarrhea of the mouth." It is like hyperactivity with words. Talking too much can be hard for kids, parents, and teachers alike.
If you're highly self-conscious or socially anxious, worrying about being perceived as a “toxic person” might lead you to under-share your needs and to a lack of connection with others. On the other hand, oversharing may be a trauma response or a sign that you are ready for or need support.
Adults with ADHD frequently think being sociable with others is an all-or-nothing part of their lives. Either they're oversharing and talking too much, or they're withdrawn and staying home alone. Hyperactivity in adults is often expressed as being overly talkative and boisterous.
Studies have shown that adults who were an only-child are more likely to engage in external self-talk. Another study found that people who are lonely and have a strong need to belong are also more likely to talk to themselves.