To think that everybody as a constant inner monologue running through their mind?!

[BeUpStanding]

I've just been told not everyone has a constant inner monologue running non-stop through their mind. Is that true?!

It's so fascinating to think how different our mental landscapes might be from other people's without realising. I've just remembered there was a thread on here ages ago (couple of years?) about whether you could see pictures in your mind... those of us that can were astonished to realise not everyone could, and vice versa. I think the OP was doing research for a psychology degree...

Anyway, do you constantly have a voice chattering away in your head, or is that another thing that people experience differently?

There was a guy on the radio who has written a book about not having the inner monologue. I think it is related to dyslexia? There was a lot of info about it, but I can't remember much. Think he said there were a disproportionate amount of people without it in prison since they don't have the inner monologue that says 'this is maybe not a good idea' 'what if you get caught' 'what happens if..' which is the kind of level of chatter I (and others above) seem to get constantly. It was really interesting.

Mine varies between a monologue and dialogue (if I'm running a possible scenario through my mind, and the various people involved are contributing). I wonder if it's an introvert/extrovert thing? I'm strongly introverted, so don't need much stimulation or time with people, and I'm rarely bored - I won't always put the radio on when driving, for example. I've asked a couple of friends about this - the introvert definitely had a monologue, whereas the more extroverted one didn't all the time.

"If I am ever idle it likes to replay clumsy conversations and awkward encounters from years ago and remind me just how embarrassing they were."

This is me too.

Yes. I mentioned it to my DD a while ago assuming everyone did. This started a series of discussions with family and friends and lots of people don’t!

Yes, but one big aim of meditation is to detach from it, that’s why it’s so relaxing and such a relief for me!

What is going through your mind most of the time?

Do you ever catch yourself just hearing a sound; your own breathing, for example? Not listening to it, not thinking about listening to it, but just hearing it? Or start thinking about something only to realise that before you started the thinking, before that you were just lost in a feeling and that feeling still lingers a little, leaking over into your thoughts - whatever they were going to be about - and making you think about that instead; those remnants of that fleeting feeling that your mind never even grasped.

That sort of thing really.

I do and when I'm stressed or worrying about something it becomes an external monologue - I mutter to myself not in an absent minded everyday conversational way more of a people looking at me like this way

My mind is never still, it's like a computer with loads of different tabs open. Loads of stuff going on. Thoughts, plans, conversations, songs.

I have an internal monologue but sometimes, if I'm doing something boring for too long, I run out of monologue. And sometimes I get annoyed with or bored of my internal monologue and the only solution is to go to sleep immediately.

Oh yes. I wonder if the people who have to constantly chat don’t have that.

Does anyone else get that thing where they are suddenly extremely aware of their own existence? Like you suddenly think ‘oh shit, I’m alive’?

Rat that's a good explanation. I sort of have that. But it's always 'washed away' and replaced by music. Right now, for eg., i've got the string intro. to Bitter Sweet Symphony (The Verve) running very quietly along.

I'd get thoroughly sick of words all the time. I love peace and quiet and get sick of the sound of my real own voice dealing with DD4 all day as it is.

I tend to go over old conversations, arguments, scenarios, made up stuff, things that need to be said, regrets, daydreams, future plans ..it’s constant and I’ve always done it

This. Also the windows open on a computer rings a bell. Way too many. Drives me crazy at times.

The only way to turn it off is to focus, like mindfulness. Some people naturally are more mindful. I have pretend convos, songs, random words. I do imagine stuff too but nothing vivid, oh and random intrusive thoughts which are lovely, not!

Rat wow no I don't think I've ever had that. My mind is Grumpy's, but the computer is also going round inside a tumble drier

I do. All the fucking time. It’s exhausting

I remember Stephen King relating that he has additional voices in his mind which interject, mostly those of people he knew like his mum. I thought that was strange, I'm used to my own mental voice but I can't imagine hearing other voices chiming in, like they're living in your head too. That seems so bizarre.

I'm like @tothesea. And often I go over MN threads and argue people's cases. And have arguments with people I don't agree with. I imagine people saying outrageous things just to imagine my response (which I suspect would be nothing like the witty repartee I can fire off) and occasionally imagine my funeral or some macabre type event I get unwittingly involved in.

I never understand how people can get bored with their own company...

I do, and can turn it on and off. As a child I used to see the words of my monologue - as though I was reading a storybook monologuing what I was doing/thinking about that day! I also pictured my monologue as a little narrator. I honestly thought everybody had a constant monologue until this thread - shocking!

Also have the picture thing. It really helps me to sleep at night, actually, I can dream of a particular scenario and go into many different scenes of various intricacy - basically getting lost in my own head - until I drift off. The next night, I can pick up where the previous night left off. :) If I ever struggle to do this, I know I’m going to have a bad night’s sleep!

Agree with others though that it can be exhausting - I often don’t realise how quiet I am in real life because I’m so loud in my own head - so, snap @Oldraver !

Interesting it’s linked to dyslexia. My DH is dyslexic and doesn’t have any inner monologue —just plenty of outer— he also rarely dreams.

My mind is constantly noisy.

I think this might have been me that triggered this query on a different thread, I'd mentioned that other people seem to have have quieter brains, although my sample size was about 3! (not exactly statistically significant!!)

I am also very intrigued as to the contents of other people's brains. Mine literally does not stop, not for sleep, not for prayer, not for exams, etc etc. It's like having a toddler in my brain demanding that I look at something all the time or three elderly ladies from the bus stop chatting at me telling me about lots of different things, all while I'm maintaining an actual train of thought. I was led to believe that wasn't quite normal?

If I were to ask what your brain was thinking at a single moment in time, what is it usually occupied with thinking?

@Grumpyoldblonde

My mind is never still, it's like a computer with loads of different tabs open. Loads of stuff going on. Thoughts, plans, conversations, songs.

Yes! This.

Sometimes, sometimes not.

I can't see pictures in my head though.

I do. I think it's fine.

It's when Its not a monologue that you need to worry. Especially if the other voices are saying bad things...

For those who have too much chatter/windows open, and can’t switch off:

Try “Antar Mouna” a type of meditation