When did talking, as if to oneself, become a sign of mental illness?

[Balthazzar]

I don't recall a point in the history of the world where living organisms didn't communicate expression even when alone, nor can I remember the concept of talking to oneself as being viewed as anything short of a mental disorder in the last 5 decades.

"Judge a fish by how well it is able to climb a tree, and the fish will go his entire life feeling as if it is stupid." Uncertain

 

[Stevicus]

I don't know who says that talking to oneself is a sign of mental illness. Most of what I hear people say about it is that they don't see anything wrong with talking to oneself, but if one is alone and hears someone answer, then that could be a sign that one is hallucinating.

Anyone who is thinking silently is doing the same process as talking to oneself, but I can't see anything wrong with "thinking out loud." In public situations, with other people present, it might be considered awkward or inappropriate.

 

[an anarchist]

In public situations, with other people present, it might be considered awkward or inappropriate.

I think this is why it is a sign of mental issues. Because the person just blabbering away to themselves do not necessarily recognize in the moment that it is socially inappropriate or do not care.

I talk to myself heavily at work sometimes. It will freak people out.

 

[Balthazzar]

I guess it shows how society becomes conditioned to expect certain behaviors from those belonging to it. Workplaces are a great example. "Who's he talking to"? Someone is heard saying "mucho loco" and observed twirling finger round and round the side of their head (not to isolate or insinuate blame but to be humorous) and the guy in question blabbering under his breath "I'm not crazy, you're crazy for thinking I'm crazy" while the on lookers are pointing fingers insisting the same, given he's now answering the "voices".

All while the birds, and wind, and frogs, and bugs, and cats, and dogs, all go about their merry way without a care in the world about anyone thinking them to be crazy for expressing something audible without communicating something specific and directly to anyone.

 

[Stevicus]

I guess it shows how society becomes conditioned to expect certain behaviors from those belonging to it. Workplaces are a great example. "Who's he talking to"? Someone is heard saying "mucho loco" and observed twirling finger round and round the side of their head (not to isolate or insinuate blame but to be humorous) and the guy in question blabbering under his breath "I'm not crazy, you're crazy for thinking I'm crazy" while the on lookers are pointing fingers insisting the same, given he's now answering the "voices".

All while the birds, and wind, and frogs, and bugs, and cats, and dogs, all go about their merry way without a care in the world about anyone thinking them to be crazy for expressing something audible without communicating something specific and directly to anyone.

Well, at least with birds, people might say they're singing, although a human singing in public might also be viewed a bit strangely - unless they're in a musical and then everyone on the street joins in and starts dancing.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I don't recall a point in the history of the world where living organisms didn't communicate expression even when alone, nor can I remember the concept of talking to oneself as being viewed as anything short of a mental disorder in the last 5 decades.

"Judge a fish by how well it is able to climb a tree, and the fish will go his entire life feeling as if it is stupid." Uncertain

I talk to myself all the time but of course I mumble but I've come across others that have actual conversations out loud and I didn't see any earpiece in their ear.

When I was in the hospital after my heart attack I was in a room with an old Russian guy and the conversations he had with himself were quite interesting to say the least.

I think some people are just blessed with having two people inside their mind , which to me means you're really never alone.

 

[Balthazzar]

From Acme Observatory Headquarters:

"The doctor now appears to be speaking to himself suggesting the patient is possibly suffering from severe schizophrenia."

They don't call this "Loony" Toons for nothing.

 

[Balthazzar]

 

[HonestJoe]

I don't recall a point in the history of the world where living organisms didn't communicate expression even when alone, nor can I remember the concept of talking to oneself as being viewed as anything short of a mental disorder in the last 5 decades.

Talking to yourself generally won't be but talking to someone who isn't actually there could well be. While the way and contexts in which we typically talk to ourselves is apparent to anyone overhearing, it clearly can be mistaken to talking to another person, leading to this confusion (or presentation for comedic value).

Anything in this area is going to be complex anyway, because there are a whole load of "strange" behaviours many of us will do, consciously or not, which don't automatically indicate any kind of mental illness but people who do have some forms of mental illness may, as a result, have similar behaviours. Culturally speaking, there is often quite a difference between the behaviours typically associated with mental illness and the behaviours that are actually common among the mentally ill.

I'm not convinced that will have significantly changed over time, though you may see more or different media representations of it that makes you think so. Historically, mental illness was mostly depicted in over exaggerated extremes, whereas modern depictions can be more varied and nuanced (though not necessarily any less inaccurate).

 

[Balthazzar]

I wonder ... Why it seems at all delusional to think that people don't actually communicate apart from visual, or some other tech device. Belonging to a collective conscious, and what we understand about communication, I find it difficult not to acknowledge the relevancy of our unseen connections of mind.

 

[mangalavara]

I talk to myself all the time but of course I mumble but I've come across others that have actual conversations out loud and I didn't see any earpiece in their ear.

You didn’t see any earpiece in their ear because they actually were talking to another person. The other person was far away but had long distance hearing and communicated their ideas using hand gestures.

 

[Kathryn]

Well, at least with birds, people might say they're singing, although a human singing in public might also be viewed a bit strangely - unless they're in a musical and then everyone on the street joins in and starts dancing.

"The stars at night, are big and bright (clap clap clap clap) deep in the heart of Texas!"

 

[wellwisher]

I don't recall a point in the history of the world where living organisms didn't communicate expression even when alone, nor can I remember the concept of talking to oneself as being viewed as anything short of a mental disorder in the last 5 decades.

"Judge a fish by how well it is able to climb a tree, and the fish will go his entire life feeling as if it is stupid." Uncertain

It is weird when you hear someone talking to themselves, but it turns out they are wearing an earbud, and are on the phone. One could use the earbud trick, as cover, when you talk to yourself, since that extra prop makes it acceptable.

Is singing or humming to yourself or air guitar the same thing?

Say two people are arguing, but neither is listening to the other; Trump versus Harris, does that mean each is talking to themself? Again, as long as someone else is present, you can talk to yourself, while pretending to be listening to others.

There are also people who will not stop talking, to where people try to avoid them. Do they talk for themselves, but game the system, by corralling ears to make that fact pass social muster?

When I write I often read what I wrote, out loud, so I can hear the words and not just read them silently. The extra sound adds extra checks and balance, by being an external sound source via my ears. It become more like hearing it, as though someone else said it and how I might react. I do not post everything I write. Some rocks are best not turned over for examination.

 

[LuisDantas]

There seems to be a bit of a social stigma against talking to oneself.

But it also seems to be very common behavior. By itself it is hardly cause for concern.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

When did talking, as if to oneself, become a sign of mental illness?​

Is it?

I think there's a difference between some type of "thinking out loud" and literally having conversations by yourself.

 

[McBell]

I don't recall a point in the history of the world where living organisms didn't communicate expression even when alone, nor can I remember the concept of talking to oneself as being viewed as anything short of a mental disorder in the last 5 decades.

"Judge a fish by how well it is able to climb a tree, and the fish will go his entire life feeling as if it is stupid." Uncertain

Most people talk to themselves regularly. This may happen when thinking through ideas, when debating decisions, or when in need of a pep talk. Some people feel that self-talk creates a “presence” around them that makes them feel better. This can help with loneliness.​

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But in some cases, when people talk to themselves in an erratic or muttering way, it could indicate a mental health disorder. This type of talking out loud can be an early sign of schizophrenia that can worsen if untreated.​

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The way we talk to ourselves can have positive or negative effects. Below you'll find more about self-talk, why talking to yourself is good for your mental health, and whether to be worried about it.​

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Why Do People Talk to Themselves?

What causes people to talk to themselves? There may not be one specific reason people talk to themselves, but there are benefits to it.

www.webmd.com

 

[VoidCat]

As an autistic person I used to have full on conversations as a kid to practice social skills and figuring out how to mask. And because of this folk actually tried to test me for schizophrenia even tho I'd tell them that I wasn't hallucinating I was just practicing conversations. Turns out when i was tested i had too strong of a grip on reality not a lack of a grip like with schizophrenia and I wasn't hallucinating.

I don't see autism as a mental illness but as a neurological and developmental disability. Mental illness doesn't show the depth of what autism affects and how it affects the person. The dsm-5 doesn't list it as a mental disorder either but as a neurodevelopmental disorder which is more accurate.

If someone is talking to themselves and you know them well enough you can always ask them what they talking about. If they schizophrenic you'll know quickly. Schizophrenics can't hide schizophrenia. They don't have a good enough grip on reality to. You may be able to get them help you know them well enough. If it's someone you dont know you'll likely know to step in or not. Like if the person is old looks lost and is talking to themselves it may be ok to step in as the person might have dementia. But usually talking to oneself is not really something to step in if you dont know the person even if the person is hallucinating. You can just leave them be if you dont know them. If it is a time to like a medical emergency(person needs to go to the hospital now it's life or death) or the person is an immediate danger to themselves or other youll likely know. There's no need to stigmatize those who hallcinate.

However its likely the person might not be hallucinating. It's usually obvious (not always but usually) if someone is hallucinating vs talking to themselves as in practicing conversations or talking their thoughts outloud. It really shouldn't freak people out that much even tho it does. I say this as someone who has been around a lot of people who hallcinate due to schizophrenia.

 

[Balthazzar]

As an autistic person I used to have full on conversations as a kid to practice social skills and figuring out how to mask. And because of this folk actually tried to test me for schizophrenia even tho I'd tell them that I wasn't hallucinating I was just practicing conversations. Turns out when i was tested i had too strong of a grip on reality not a lack of a grip like with schizophrenia and I wasn't hallucinating.

I don't see autism as a mental illness but as a neurological and developmental disability. Mental illness doesn't show the depth of what autism affects and how it affects the person. The dsm-5 doesn't list it as a mental disorder either but as a neurodevelopmental disorder which is more accurate.

If someone is talking to themselves and you know them well enough you can always ask them what they talking about. If they schizophrenic you'll know quickly. Schizophrenics can't hide schizophrenia. They don't have a good enough grip on reality to. You may be able to get them help you know them well enough. If it's someone you dont know you'll likely know to step in or not. Like if the person is old looks lost and is talking to themselves it may be ok to step in as the person might have dementia. But usually talking to oneself is not really something to step in if you dont know the person even if the person is hallucinating. You can just leave them be if you dont know them. If it is a time to like a medical emergency(person needs to go to the hospital now it's life or death) or the person is an immediate danger to themselves or other youll likely know. There's no need to stigmatize those who hallcinate.

However its likely the person might not be hallucinating. It's usually obvious (not always but usually) if someone is hallucinating vs talking to themselves as in practicing conversations or talking their thoughts outloud. It really shouldn't freak people out that much even tho it does. I say this as someone who has been around a lot of people who hallcinate due to schizophrenia.

I'm not practicing conversations, nor am I hallucinating. I aim well, and although it may seem somewhat incoherent in practice, given the thought processes involved, it makes sense to me to do this as opposed to bottling it all up in attempt to contain the expression itself. I practice my logos as it is experienced inside myself, and while I couldn't pull it off at a job, I am at least able to blend in with those who aren't so different than me.

He was speaking to a machine without aim to carry on with an exchange. I found it odd, but then we communicate in many ways and for many reasons. I talk to my planted pineapple plant, the cats around the neighborhood, and I sometimes yell at the wind when it pisses me off.

 

[Balthazzar]

More or less frequently

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Ironically, if I didn't talk to myself, I'd probably be more mentally ill!