To wonder if this is odd behaviour

[NameChangedIHave]

I have named changed for this, because admittedly it is rather embarrassing!

I'm wondering how odd it is to talk to yourself and act out fake scenarios. I think I've done this since I was a child, but sometimes I will be by myself, be thinking of something indepthly, then all of a sudden I'll have created a scenario and be acting it out to myself. For example, a moment ago I was being interviewed on television about quite a niche topic, with the interviewee being very impressed with my answers.

I will then realise what I am doing, feel a bit embarrassed even though I am alone, and stop.

These scenarios aren't really things that have happened, just fantasy thinking I guess! Obviously I've never admitted this to anyone in my real life before, so am I being unreasonable to ask if this is odd behaviour, and wonder if anyone else does this?

There's far worse you could get up to, OP!

I have a friend who has a thriving relationship with a famous actor. I prefer to perform songs that I like live in my head when they're on the radio and have adoring fans. Why wouldn't you?

I like a good daydreaming session tbh. I don't see much different from watching Eastenders or similar - it's escapism. Except that you can cast anyone you want in a daydream!

I read the back of bathroom products and pretend I’m the voiceover for the tv advert for said product. Usually whilst on the loo. keeps me entertained!

Yep i do have one where i save a bunch of kids trapped in a shopping mall surrounded by isis terrorists. I lay down my life so the kids escape and i am post humously hailed a hero.

I've saved people from terrorists too! But I manage to escape alive to enjoy my hero status. And also to give my opinion on how we need to move forward tackling terrorism in the media 😂

I think we've all done this. Totally normal. It's like a form of Walter Mitty, the guy who would imagine himself doing heroic things. Hence the embarrassment when we realize that in our daydream we've made ourselves morevthan what we are, such as the successful writer being interviewed about a novel (my particular daydream) haha havent done it in many years. Lots of people 'visualize' scenarios sometimes as motivation or prelude to a breakthrough of some kind. Michael Jordan didn't make his own high school team but visualized making the big shots. Hey, no harm in it as long as it's not all the time and you separate reality from fantasy. It's like an adult version of a child playing pretend.

My mum talks to herself, usually when she doesn't realise we can see her or hear her talking to herself, but she does it in hushed tones, not as loud like you would a normal conversation.

Honestly though, I find it a odd so when I've seen her do it I've asked her what she's said, as though she was talking to me but I couldn't quite hear her, but then she denies ever saying anything and stops talking to herself. Its really off putting!!

I do it all the time too. I've never worried about it or wondered if it's normal. I'm usually doing something amazing like winning at the olympics (when I'm out running), sometimes imagining I'm a famous performer, or carrying out various heroic acts! I've always put it down to daydreaming/fantasising. Fascinated to read this thread though and see how many other people do it too.

I do it. I have no idea if it's normal or not, nor do I care.
I'm going to do it anyway.

If you think about it it really is more strange not to do it. You have a brain that can imagine any kind of wonderful scenario that would never be achievable or even perhaps even possible in real life and you just choose not to make use of it. Ever. You just think about work and what you need from Asda and day to day mundane stuff. Now that IS weird.

Corbyns i may have to steal your storyline!

I recommend it. I've been on Question Time and was widely praised for my intelligence and insight.

Yes i spoke very well on QT when I was shadow health secretary. The newspaper headline for my appearance was "Brains and Beauty".
Johnny Rotten was a special guest and admitted to being dumbstruck by my presence, especially when I told him off for swearing.

😂 I'm definitely advertising the shampoos next time I'm on the toilet as well!
I do think that it needs to be done in your head though unless you're definitely alone. Like a pp said it would be very strange to witness!

Meh, sounds normal to me. Sometimes if I’m sitting in the bath I pretend I’m in an advert for shampoo or whatever. Kids play make believe all the time. That’s all it is. I’d be mortified if someone ever caught me doing it though lol!

slarty I totally do that!

mrsharrison and CorbynsBumFlannel I completely forgot about my 'saving people from terrorist' plot line!

Mine is on the underground and I jump on the back of a terrorist and smash his head against the wall (sorry graphic and that.)
The second one is when I save a small child. I am then interviewed 'I did what anyone else would do, blah blah'. I too live to see my hero status play out.

That one is in my head though...usually when riding the tube.

I do
This all the time OP. Often to work out scenarios that have been negative.

Namechanged am loving your courage on the tube!

Imagination is an amazing thing!

There was a study recently showing that DC perform better at tests when play-acting a character.

www.google.co.uk/amp/www.nydailynews.com/amp/news/national/study-finds-kids-perform-better-dressed-batman-article-1.3683895

NameChangedIHave when I'm on the tube I tend to either be hyper aware of other people, which I find uncomfortable, or lost in my own thoughts which are often based on worrying about stuff. I wish I was imagining saving the train from terrorists - maybe I should try it!

As you are a writer, you use your imagination professionally (even if you're writing non-fiction you're still playing with words and ideas). From a purely practical point of view I'd guess it's probably really good for writer's mind if they exercise their imagination in this way.

It might not be "usual" but it's an appropriate part of being a creative person IMO, embrace it I reckon!

Oooooh my people! I do this a lot, mostly internally, but sometimes my kids will say “Mum, you’re talking to yourself again” and roll their eyes. They are quite used to it now!

I do this too - when I was young I used to pretend I was presenting Blue Peter when I was cleaning the hamster out to helpfully teach everyone how to do it properly!

I also have ongoing fantasy lives, and my new year's resolution this year is to try and make the real me more like the fantasy me instead of just pretending I'm amazing and everybody loves me when no-one is looking

Funny enough i am a writer too.