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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 25. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Christ_empowered on July 5, 2011, at 9:53:46
I talk to myself. Mostly, its due to social isolation, not mental illness per se; my mind gets worked up, I have nobody to talk to, so out it comes when I'm alone. Today my mother was doing some stuff upstairs and came down and asked "who are you talking to?"
I had to admit, I've been so socially isolated that I've taken to talking to myself. It relieves pressure in my brain, I can't really explain it. She calmly asked me how I'm going to get un-isolated, and I went on about how I'd recently made an appointment with the local mental health people and how I'm looking for work, etc. etc.
SO EMBARRASSING! Somebody, anybody, tell me that its normal to start acting a bit off if you've been all alone for way too long. I mean, at least I'm not trying to medicate my loneliness beyond just the Abilify...I used to do that (learned my lesson I suppose).
I'm just so embarrassed. I guess this is how you get re-socialized, though; embarrassment is part of the process.
Posted by Phillipa on July 5, 2011, at 10:40:10
In reply to I got busted talking to myself, posted by Christ_empowered on July 5, 2011, at 9:53:46
CE now that you are home maybe it will lessen. I also talk to self or constantly thoughts going round in my head. Don't know what kind of surrounding at your home but if neighbors walking and stopping to chit chat sometimes helps or with husband as afraid if alone in stores talk to people at time. Phillipa
Posted by sleepygirl2 on July 5, 2011, at 19:59:49
In reply to I got busted talking to myself, posted by Christ_empowered on July 5, 2011, at 9:53:46
Mostly I have conversations inside my head, not voices just imaginary interactions. That can be a disconnect from others too. I might just have to write down some of those conversations. I am accustomed to keeping them in my head.
Your mom was thinking you were hearing voices eh?
It's hard to go from your own space to home again.
We get used to our comfort zones. Having to accommodate the presence of others can be such a pain in the *ss ;-)
Posted by linkadge on July 7, 2011, at 8:34:22
In reply to Re: I got busted talking to myself » Christ_empowered, posted by sleepygirl2 on July 5, 2011, at 19:59:49
I talk to myself all the time. I don't see it as being an issue. I don't know where/when it became so "wierd" to talk to oneself. I think there was a study done recently which suggested that talking to oneself resulted in a more active coping pattern when individuals were exposed to difficult situations.
I see it as 'actively' helping yourself. Just like you were giving advice or counselling another individual.
Linkadge
Posted by sigismund on July 7, 2011, at 15:30:08
In reply to Re: Nothing wrong with talking to oneself, posted by linkadge on July 7, 2011, at 8:34:22
Many thoughts are you talking to yourself.
There is just this embargo on saying it out loud, because it reminds people how crazy they are.
Posted by emmanuel98 on July 7, 2011, at 21:02:36
In reply to Re: Nothing wrong with talking to oneself, posted by linkadge on July 7, 2011, at 8:34:22
My husband mutters to himself a lot, especially in the morning. And he is mister sociability with tons of friends and a very social job.
Posted by Dinah on July 8, 2011, at 8:58:03
In reply to Re: Nothing wrong with talking to oneself, posted by emmanuel98 on July 7, 2011, at 21:02:36
I can't imagine why there would be either. Most people I know do it at least sometimes.
I find that one of the advantages of having a dog. Along with having a built in vacuum cleaner for crumbs. I can throw in the dog's name a few times and talk happily to myself for as long as I wish. It even makes the dog happy.
Posted by sigismund on July 8, 2011, at 17:19:29
In reply to Re: Nothing wrong with talking to oneself, posted by Dinah on July 8, 2011, at 8:58:03
I sometimes say crazy things to my dog starting with 'As you know, we....', by which I mean me and me.
Posted by Phillipa on July 8, 2011, at 20:21:53
In reply to Re: Nothing wrong with talking to oneself » Dinah, posted by sigismund on July 8, 2011, at 17:19:29
Sigi what type dog you have? Breed. PJ
Posted by floatingbridge on July 8, 2011, at 21:53:29
In reply to Re: Nothing wrong with talking to oneself, posted by Dinah on July 8, 2011, at 8:58:03
> I can't imagine why there would be either. Most people I know do it at least sometimes.
>
> I find that one of the advantages of having a dog. Along with having a built in vacuum cleaner for crumbs. I can throw in the dog's name a few times and talk happily to myself for as long as I wish. It even makes the dog happy.:-)
My dogs appreciate a good conversation.
Posted by floatingbridge on July 8, 2011, at 22:42:06
In reply to I got busted talking to myself, posted by Christ_empowered on July 5, 2011, at 9:53:46
I'm sorry you worried your mom. Seems that parents are hard-wired to worry about their kids and get hyper-vigilant about...everything!
And, I dunno. I find it difficult to not become hyoer-vigilant about my behavior or symptoms. I can get a little paranoid :-/
This reminds me of one of the difficulties I had at catechism. I would move my lips when I read, and the nuns did not like this. It was not permitted. Doesn't that seem arbitrary and besides the point? I mean, I was concentrating....
Posted by sigismund on July 8, 2011, at 22:49:54
In reply to Re: Nothing wrong with talking to oneself » sigismund, posted by Phillipa on July 8, 2011, at 20:21:53
We have a beagle.
He is a nice dog, with the peculiarities of the breed.
I have become very fond of him.
Posted by sigismund on July 8, 2011, at 22:57:32
In reply to Re: I got busted talking to myself » Christ_empowered, posted by floatingbridge on July 8, 2011, at 22:42:06
>I find it difficult to not become hyoer-vigilant about my behavior or symptoms
Oh yes, it's ridiculous.
I'll give you an example.
When you buy things here you go through a sequence when you produce your credit card, which goes.....
'Cheque, savings or credit?'
'Credit'
'Pin or sign?' (PIN = personal identification number.)
Now being the literal type and not wanting to be over-assertive I started saying
'I can pin.'
And then I started worrying about the use of Pin as a verb.
It sounded naf, it kinda sucked (but why?) and then the use of 'can' there bothered me.
It took me months to break the habit and learn off the new routine.
Now I just say
'Pin'
And feel pleased I have made a narrow escape.
Posted by floatingbridge on July 9, 2011, at 8:27:47
In reply to Re: Nothing wrong with talking to oneself » Phillipa, posted by sigismund on July 8, 2011, at 22:49:54
> We have a beagle.
> He is a nice dog, with the peculiarities of the breed.
> I have become very fond of him.I heart beagles.
Silly hounds.
Posted by sleepygirl2 on July 9, 2011, at 11:03:16
In reply to Re: Nothing wrong with talking to oneself » Dinah, posted by sigismund on July 8, 2011, at 17:19:29
I talk to my cat... I say "how was your day? What did you do today?". She makes some sound, and I say "tell me more about that". She says something else and I say "really?" and on it goes... I know she's saying something
I love the way you talk to your dog sig :-)
I use "we" when I talk to myself too.
Posted by sleepygirl2 on July 9, 2011, at 11:06:46
In reply to Re: I got busted talking to myself, posted by sigismund on July 8, 2011, at 22:57:32
You're funny sig :-)
I do that sort of thing.
I analyze every move and interaction, my use of language.
Posted by sigismund on July 9, 2011, at 14:40:25
In reply to Re: Nothing wrong with talking to oneself, posted by floatingbridge on July 9, 2011, at 8:27:47
People are very divided on Beagles.
They are not a responsive breed, they don't like being reprimanded and they are very very friendly.
Some people say they are stupid.
I'm not so sure.
Posted by floatingbridge on July 9, 2011, at 17:06:49
In reply to Re: Nothing wrong with talking to oneself, posted by sigismund on July 9, 2011, at 14:40:25
>
> Some people say they are stupid.
> I'm not so sure.:-)
I am picking at a book, Animals in Translation. I think the author, Temple Grandin would back your hunch.
Posted by sigismund on July 9, 2011, at 18:44:52
In reply to Re: Nothing wrong with talking to oneself » sigismund, posted by floatingbridge on July 9, 2011, at 17:06:49
I saw the film about her, and of course know of her from the autism angle.
In the film the character that is supposed to be her talked beautifully about animals.
Posted by sigismund on July 9, 2011, at 18:47:06
In reply to Re: Nothing wrong with talking to oneself » floatingbridge, posted by sigismund on July 9, 2011, at 18:44:52
I must have come across her from reading Oliver Sacks.
Posted by Dinah on July 10, 2011, at 11:34:54
In reply to Re: Nothing wrong with talking to oneself » sigismund, posted by sleepygirl2 on July 9, 2011, at 11:03:16
I do that with one of my dogs! She pays attention and talks back at appropriate conversational pauses. Her favorite conversations have to do with food.
Posted by Dinah on July 10, 2011, at 11:43:21
In reply to Re: Nothing wrong with talking to oneself, posted by sigismund on July 9, 2011, at 14:40:25
No, not stupid. Hunting dogs can't be stupid. It's just that they weren't developed to be like a sheepdog, working intimately with a human and being inordinately responsive to the slightest cues. They were developed to be independent and tenacious, and that doesn't always translate to obedient.
For myself, my passion is for the sheepdogs and toys who have been selectively developed over time for exquisite attunement to people. Although I also adore sighthounds, who were not. :) Although I suppose their overall sensitivity can compensate for that.
I was reading "Why We Love the Dogs We Do" and was quite put out that while I know from long experience that what he terms the "clever" dogs are the best fit for me, the temperament test in the book didn't agree.
Posted by sigismund on July 10, 2011, at 14:50:41
In reply to Re: Nothing wrong with talking to oneself » sigismund, posted by Dinah on July 10, 2011, at 11:43:21
>No, not stupid. Hunting dogs can't be stupid. It's just that they weren't developed to be like a sheepdog, working intimately with a human and being inordinately responsive to the slightest cues. They were developed to be independent and tenacious, and that doesn't always translate to obedient.
Hey, I'm glad you said that. I've never heard it put so well.
It is interesting how a dog can be so independant and tenacious and yet be so upset, I feel, by reprimand. He probably feels we don't understand his nature. He is 6 now and growing a little grey and we are all very close. But he is a hard dog to keep on the porch.
Posted by sigismund on July 10, 2011, at 18:02:03
In reply to Re: Nothing wrong with talking to oneself » Dinah, posted by sigismund on July 10, 2011, at 14:50:41
When my son first left home I listened to this obsessively.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_rIR39qtDA&playnext=1&list=PL348F7DFD3075DFBE
It contained all the sweetness and innocence I missed and felt about him, even including the kinds of funny noises he would make.
It sounds like it from vinyl with a few scratches or something.
Posted by floatingbridge on July 13, 2011, at 19:58:50
In reply to Re: Nothing wrong with talking to oneself, posted by sigismund on July 10, 2011, at 18:02:03
This link isn't working for me. I am going to find another way to access this on youtube.
It is related to cluster and eno?
I think music is an excellent idea....
> When my son first left home I listened to this obsessively.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_rIR39qtDA&playnext=1&list=PL348F7DFD3075DFBE
>
> It contained all the sweetness and innocence I missed and felt about him, even including the kinds of funny noises he would make.
>
> It sounds like it from vinyl with a few scratches or something.
This is the end of the thread.
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