What to do when other speak over the top of you?

[madeitagain]

I am a fairly reserved person. I have had an ongoing problem at work meetings, book clubs, biggish social gatherings: i.e. where there is situation where anyone can contribute adhoc. I find others constantly talk over the top of me. Any ideas on what I can do? I realise this not a situation unique to me but I do think it happens to me more than most. I must be doing something wrong.

Somehow managed not to finish my own point on a thread about interruptions- I would ask the interrupted person to finish as soon as the interrupter stopped talking, so that no one had the chance to respond to whatever point she'd raised.

I am an interrupter; I get excited and splurge out my crap before others have finished. I try never to do it to quiet people though. I think being too aggressive with your approach will spoil the mood at something like a book club, so I recommend, carrying on, but raising your volume, or saying, "I'm sorry but I hadn't finished" in a loud but not angry voice. I'm sorry that we do it. I'm especially sorry to Claire in my book club, who never gets a word in edgeways, even though I have tried to shush others so they will listen. If you are her, you really need to just try harder and talk louder.

I have this problem with one particular person at work. It got so bad that I worked out at one point, if he had been within listening distance of me at any time during the day, I hadn't been able to finish my sentence (including the "test" deiscussion I had with a female colleague about period pain!) On numerous occasions I had been asked a direct question as I am the person with the most knowledge. Anyway, I started a 3 prong retaliation (though admittedly not 100% of the time:

1. If he's started answering a question before I've had chance, and got it right - "and I said that without moving my lips!"
2. If he answers before I can start talking abd gets it wrong, I wait for him to finish, give him a pointed look and say "actually , no, that's wrong. And if you'd allowed me to answer the question directed at me, you would have realised that"
3. If he actually starts talking over me, I stop and wait (often jotting down on a piece of papDr where I'd got to when he interrupted). When he's finished (could be 5 minutes for a 30sec answer) I just say "so as I was saying, before I was interrupted...." And carry on.

Seems to be working so far...!

I have been on both sides of the coin.

Interupters win hands down every time for me as I forget what I was saying and can't make my point. I find it best to explain that I have a medical condition, I find people will slow right down the conversation unless they are an arse hole and there is a much better flow of conversation.

I interrupt arse hole's who won't let me talk and take over conversations, though sheer necessity, it is normally the one's who talk and talk and talk and don't give anyone else a chance, as I have short term memory problems and if I don't get out what I want to say when I need to then it's gone. It is in the equality act as a reasonable adjustment.

I would generally stick with excuse me I haven't finished/was still speaking.

It's straight to the point but said politely

Clearly I am not the only person with the problem. Thanks for all the ideas and suggestions.