AIBU to ask whether constant mental chatter is normal?

I've always had a constant stream of consciousness in my head. Sometimes I'm having a serious work conversation and ABBA is playing in my head...Sometimes I'm having a serious work conversation and my home to do list is in my head...I assumed this was part of being a busy mum in this point in history but three people have recently asked if I ever thought about assessing for Adhd...! I feel like the universe is trying to tell me something 🤔 🤣

I'm fascinated by it too. I use visualisation for everything! I don't know how if someone is asked what their dog is like or what their partner looks like they don't conjure up a mental image every time before they answer. It's just memory isn't it, and how can that not be visual in some way? I guess it really is a thing though.

Maybe we missed our calling as film directors!

I've long been fascinated by aphantasia as I can't comprehend that there are people who have no images in their mind. Obviously I know everyone is different, but I can't conceive what that must feel like.

But I've just learned from this thread that there is an opposite - hyperphantasia, which when I Googled fits me very accurately. I can recall details vividly, invent detailed visual scenarios. But it's not always a good thing, as horrible detailed images stick in my mind and come back unbidden. I can't watch anything violent on TV as it stays with me forever.

This is me too! I have twice started watching a film (2 different films) and become convinced it must be a remake as I've seen it before but things looked different, only to realise the film is based on a book I've read

Mine is like this and after a busy day I have to ask it to shut up. I think I do have ADHD (dc both diagnosed). But dh has asd and he says his brain is just empty..

Oh yes. I've always called it 'crazy thought ping pong', I feel I have too many thoughts just ping ponging about the whole time I can't make sense of them half the time. Then on top of that, a soundtrack of whatever I heard in the car that morning plus a tendancy to repeat a couple of phrases over and over again in my head! Sounds mad when written down. But I find headphones and music helps me immensely at work and podcast for housework.

Where did this idea come from that its a 'ND thing' anyway?

Dont people know how brains work?

No idea if I have adhd as never been tested and have no plans to do so. My brain is a constant spaghetti of thoughts and images. I am usually focusing on several things at once, with hyper realistic images and a song or 2. I also need multiple sensory inputs, so radio or audio book if cooking, knitting or doomscrolling while watching TV etc. I can't focus on anything when it is quiet and calm, so hate working from home. I don't know how to brain in any other way though 😁.

I’m fairly sure I don’t have any ND. My brain often works like this, but I think it’s due to overwhelm and having too much on my plate than any ND. It’s gotten worse since I’ve had kids and have to fit in their things to remember and I have to leave work dead on time to get them so haven’t had a chance to complete everything or close it down mentally and end my day (plus I generally work again after they are asleep so I’m thinking about what I need to do later etc)

Yes it's so annoying and also entertaining. It never stops! I don't have ADHD, just an active mind!

I do that in yoga.

Yes. No ADHD. I wish it was quieter sometimes. Only ever got quiet at yoga.

Isn't that the problem though - that none of us can really know what a "normal brain" is, or what it's like to be in anyone else's mind? I was well into adulthood before I learnt that some people think in words. And the person I was talking to was equally amazed to learn that some people don't.

I have ADHD and that’s my brain, it’s never ever quiet

I have songs in my head all the time - including all of the instruments. Amazing as I can't play or read music - because I can't concentrate enough to learn!

Mine never stops (hence being awake at this time). I often tell three stories at once alongside mundane stuff and a song. Which is currently Champagne Supernova because I heard the word landslide.

Yep. Mine is at constant overload. With constant earworms ongoing. 84 tabs open and where is the music coming from? If I try to ignore the earworms they start playing like it’s screeching in my head and I have no choice but to listen to it repeat over and over every line. I do have CPTSD and rely on gp prescribed sleeping tablets every night and have done for years. I have been diagnosed with Autism but my ADHD assessment was an absolute no, you do not have this. It’s also hard to have the voice in your head coming at you constantly. But mine is more trauma related so hopefully most won’t suffer that way too.

@Sirzy is it a monster ? 😉
Some days I could pull my head off because the earworm won't stop. Latest has been Lola Young I'm Too Messy (soz). It's the monkey brain we have.
Meditation doesn't empty the mind, that's impossible. But you can learn to sit with it. You notice when monkey brain starts running off, and bring it gently back, to the breath (note to self - start meditating again !)

Yep I am neurotypical and always have some nonsense or other going on in my brain. Sometimes I have to recruit The Muppets theme tune to screen out a particular song, they can go on for days

I have the Swedish Chef from the Muppets making poppity corn song playing at the moment - it's been three days so far. The monkey chatter isn't drowning it out either. Hopefully something will replace it soon.

I have constant stories going on in my head, where I'm role playing different characters. There's music in the background often the same song on repeat. But I'm also thinking up creative projects all at the same time, which rarely come to fruition. Yet I can drive and still be focused on the road, with all that muted in the background, in fact driving is the only time I can really mute it.
I can't listen to instructions or podcasts as I zone out in minutes. Video is fine, but I prefer written instructions with photos.

The constant story in my head means I am never bored and don't really understand boredam.
My Mum is autistic, but nothing like me. My DS2 is diagnosed ADHD. I haven't tried to get a diagnosis.

My Dad however has a quiet brain, he doesn't see things in pictures (aphantasia). This utterly blows my mind.

I once had The Gambler by Kenny Rogers in my head for about a month. But only the chorus part because it was the only words I knew!!
Apart from that, yes an almost constant inner monologue. I'm terrible at completing one while job at a time.
Instead I flit from job to job at home and in the garden.
If I have a big job that requires a long amount of time I will procrastinate. Even though ultimately I know it won't take long. But if it's boring then I will put it off.
I can't cope with silence - but I don't often watch TV. I choose talk radio instead and then at least I can get boring jobs done because my brain is occupied.
I'm better in a crisis when there is a short deadline to do anything. Terrible at planning for the long term - apart from serious work projects - however they need to have deadlines too at parts of the project when needed for it to be hitting milestones.

All of this though means I'm really good at my day to day job which requires staying calm, dealing with multiple things at once, giving advice ad hoc and not stressing about it. And not caring about things coming at multiple directions.

And managing people who are the complete opposite to me and who look to me when we have a crisis.

So ultimately, we are all different - but we can all compliment each other - whether friends, family or colleagues!

Constant chatter and songs here too. Do you also hum the same line over and over? My DH often has to nudge me when it’s doing his head in 🤣

Mine is constant commentary and noise. I often have to talk to myself to focus on a task to the exclusion of almost everything else. I'm almost definitely not neurotypical, though.