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?

Pictures, words, songs, commentary, all that sort of stuff, but I can turn it off if I want to.

Anyone ever have ear pops?

Hi NotLost!

You're right... maybe the question should be more like 'do you think one thing at a time?'

I do wish I could switch mine off. It’s not so much a monologue - words, sentences, a structured speech etc - as thoughts and ideas. All. The. Time.

I’m so envious of people who can meditate, just exist. I last about three seconds before thoughts come flooding in. I try focusing on my breathing or feeling individual muscles, but even that leads to “I wonder how thick a diaphragm is. Where exactly is it? Does is look like a huge hymen?”, or “bloody hell my hip hurts. That bloody surgeon, I knew he was an arrogant shit. Medical negligence is so hard to prove though. Still, keeps lawyers in clover, trickle down economics and so forth. Although Trump should hopefully prove that one wrong once and for all...” and on and on and on.

Yes I definitely have it, would love to be mindful, live in the moment, still, and meditative. But sadly, I struggle with that. The only thing that works for me is extremely loud rock/pop music on ear phones. So I have ear phones on whilst running, walking the dog and doing house work. That's the only way I can get peace, noise louder than the constant chatter!!

I used to think I was probably mad, but the older I got, the more I suspected I wasn't alone with this affliction. Confirmed for me now with this thread!

I don't have an inner monologue, as in a language form. It's picture like thoughts. Like sort transparent films with feelings attached. E.g. Picture clothes in my mind and feel a "should" as in "should wash". Look at floor and then picture vacuuming with "should" feeling. Picture deadline (often a view of calendar date in head or/and pile of papers/computer)feel "should" and "worry/stress". That sort of thing. I rarely have actual language going through my head, unless thinking of a conversation or writing, etc. Sometimes songs. Mostly a jumble of transparent film clips on the foreground of perceived surroundings, unless concentrating on something. Hardly ever talk to myself. DP, on the other hand, has the monologue (I think) and a lot of the time talks to himself too. He has dyslexia. I don't. I'm an artist and multilingual from birth, so that could be something to do with my lack of constant language form inner monologue.

I don't think in words, unless I'm reading. As I'm typing this my inner voice is saying it. Once I stop typing I think in thoughts and feelings with no form of language attached. It's just 'there'.

DH can't conjure images in his brain, and is also 'face blind'. I find that fascinating.

Fascinated, Windows open, that's exactly it. I've never heard it described like that but that perfectly describes how I feel almost all the time. Will look up the meditation you suggest.

I can switch thinking off for a while, but it's as hard. I never realised that many people actually talk to themselves in their heads all the time!

Yes, my mind is exhausting. Sometimes I can't sleep because it just keeps churning away on overdrive. I'm also very visual and when younger I think had a slight degree of synaesthesia - used to associate days of the week and certain words with colours, etc.

Music, non stop. Random chats, memories, but I can zone out of it, took a lot of practice at meditation, but I can escape!

I commented on the other thread because I couldn't believe that not everybody has this. My mind is never quiet. I never believed DH when he said he's not thinking about anything!

www.carolgodridgesatyanandayoga.com/shop/

The Meditation CD sold by this lady, a lovely woman yoga practitioner, has a fabulous effective guided meditation track called “Antar Mouna: The Inner Silence Meditation”.

It’s the only meditation I have ever been able to succeed with. Still use the track after years, very effective.

Thank Christ it’s not just me...

BeUp - computer in a washing machine, thats me too. I’m exhausted and the bloody background song to my week is that horrible Bruno Mars, lucky for you that’s what I like song. But I never get a whole song, just a sentence or part of a tune. Over and over and over. It drives me completely mad.

My internal voice is also being really horrible to me these past few weeks.

Need to pick up my meditation practice again.

Thanks to everyone, I feel less of a weirdo!!!

Can other people 'smell' things too? For example, if I say bacon or fresh bread or petrol, are you able to 'smell' it in your mind?

I have to say the ‘dark’ side of my internal monologue was lessened by having acupuncture. I used to be plagued by the regrets, replaying old arguments etc. I thought I just had to live with it but the acupuncture really really helped.

I still do it but it’s much improved.
I remember speaking to a friend about this and she was had no idea what I meant. I was amazed as I thought everyone did it. That’s actually what pushed me to get help.

Sounds like OCD. Pure OCD

I do!

I am trying to moderate it with the help of this book

God no, having an internal monologue sounds awful!
I daydream all the time. I make up stories. That’s fun, like playing.

Oh and I have a thing were a really random memory, which I often have never remembered before or haven’t for a long time, just pops into my head for NO reason. That sends me off in a tangent.
Anyone else get that?

Ohhh I can’t smell, or don’t have images.

It’s just words and snippets of conversations, self flagilation and a sort of mind hopping from thoughts. A bit like browsing YouTube or Wikipedia, hopping over words and ideas.

I’m sure the internet has made it worse!!

For those of you who can switch it off spontaneously (not through a persistent meditation practice) how!!!????

Chattering? No, that must be annoying.

I've just been reading others posts - hearing them in my speaking voice in my head. Now I'm hearing what I'm typing. I can hear external noises too. No chattering.

I can think about things, imagine situations, quite visually. Or I can run through conversations in my head, relived or imaginary. The voice I hear is usually my voice though, or others' if re-living conversations. I don't have other voices talking in my head.

Maybe I shouldn't have visited this thread.

I now have a bittersweet symphony Bruno Mars mashup in my head at the same time as considering the follow:
Cold feet
Cultural appropriation
Salads
Cats
Bedtime
Netball
Diaphragms - I kind of imagine them like a big tongue? Ew, except not the contraception, actually why do they have the same name?

Some of you may find yourself at home on the other thread by the sounds of it!!

I do. The tone of mine shifts though depending on whether I have been reading/watching something with a very distinctive tone. So if I have been reading Thomas Hardy, my monologue tends to be very Hardyesque. Samuel Beckett is fun to be!

I have several layers or channels playing at once. The front one is very frenetic. There's another quieter observer one. Others too come in and out but it's hard to detangle the different strands of thought.

Anyone know what I mean?