Inner monologue

[Josy]

So theres been discussion on fb, Twitter etc the past few days about the universal existence of inner monologues.

The discussion centers around the possibility that not all humans have an inner monologue.

One of the videos I watched

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2257509361048607&id=175750359224528

I just dont get her explanation really, I mean surely just reading something is in itself an inner monologue :shrug:

What's your opinions on this? Do you have an inner monologue?

[Marsh.]

Yeah, I think the woman is probably confused and expecting it to be like "a voice from God" type thing. But thinking to yourself inside your head is an internal monologue.

[Josy]

Yeah, I think the woman is probably confused and expecting it to be like "a voice from God" type thing. But thinking to yourself inside your head is an internal monologue.She also seems to think that just repeating 'concept maps' is a suitable explanation [emoji23]

[Marsh.]

Yeah, it's daft. She has thoughts, therefore has an inner monologue.

When she talks about seeing words etc, I do that kind of. Like when I think back on months and years I can "see" a kind of calendar in my head if that makes sense?

She also says "Most of my conversations are out loud" so therefore some of them aren't. :joker:

[Marsh.]

When he made the comment of someone walking past he should've asked how she thinks things like "Oh I like their coat!" because that is a monologue.

[Oliver_W]

I have a "JD from Scrubs" type inner monologue, while my ex thinks in "concepts". I remember asking him once at what age he thought people's inner monologues might start (he wants to go into psych) and he had no idea what I was on about...

[Crimson Dynamo]

I h ave that all the time and often worry I'm talking to myself and people can see, its real

[thesheriff443]

The voices in my head said we are leaving you are nuts.

[Mystic Mock]

Doesn't everyone have an inner monologue?:laugh:

[Jessica.]

I have complete aphantasia, no inner monologue, no imagining sounds or voices, no mental images. I just think in words and factsbut I don't imagine the words, I say them to myself, I literally feel my vocal chords moving when I'm thinking of something. If I don't voice the thoughts to myself, for example when reading, then it's hard to retain the information and even then I can't really build a scene to add to.

[Jessica.]

If I'm not thinking then there's nothing going on in my head, for example like doing a menial task like making a coffee, my heads just blank and I don't really think or have any kind of "monologue"

[Josy]

I have complete aphantasia, no inner monologue, no imagining sounds or voices, no mental images. I just think in words and factsbut I don't imagine the words, I say them to myself, I literally feel my vocal chords moving when I'm thinking of something. If I don't voice the thoughts to myself, for example when reading, then it's hard to retain the information and even then I can't really build a scene to add to.If you are voicing the thoughts to yourself then that's inner monologue

[Kizzy]

Wow.. I would have never thought that there is a whole different way to think and have thought processes. I think this is facinating and I bet she can't believe there is a different way to think either, I kind of feel sorry for her though... daydreaming and creative visualisation is fun.

Like that guy I can't get how she functions, if she was say decorating a room how could she envisage it looking when she'd finished? Mind blown :/

[Josy]

I h ave that all the time and often worry I'm talking to myself and people can see, its realYes you are describing inner monologue?

Only around 3% of people dont e oerience this, or claim to.

[Jessica.]

If you are voicing the thoughts to yourself then that's inner monologue

It's not inner, it's literally me saying things to myself but without the actual noise, the air still goes through my vocal chords and my tong kinda move, it's s not like a monologue because I don't really think in a speech pattern, it's just a word here or there unless I'm planning a sentence to say or trying to remote words of a song for example.

"An internal monologue, also called self-talk, inner speech, inner discourse or internal discourse, is a person's inner voice which provides a running verbal monologue of thoughts while they are conscious."

I don't have an "inner voice" either which makes it even less likely, the way I think is different but I get the same outcome, I suppose.

[Josy]

Wow.. I would have never thought that there is a whole different way to think and have thought processes. I think this is facinating and I bet she can't believe there is a different way to think either, I kind of feel sorry for her though... daydreaming and creative visualisation is fun.

Like that guy I can't get how she functions, if she was say decorating a room how could she envisage it looking when she'd finished? Mind blown :/Yeah I cant really get my head round it either, I mean there must be something there if not then how incredibly dull most it be basically not have an imagination?

I'm stumped really on understanding it a bit take this thread for example, how do they read the comments if not using inner monologue :shrug:

[Kizzy]

I think I'm really lucky now when I read it plays like a film in my head and I see the characters and hear their voices ( well you know, imagine their accents and such.

[Josy]

It's not inner, it's literally me saying things to myself but without the actual noise, the air still goes through my vocal chords and my tong kinda move, it's s not like a monologue because I don't really think in a speech pattern, it's just a word here or there unless I'm planning a sentence to say or trying to remote words of a song for example.

"An internal monologue, also called self-talk, inner speech, inner discourse or internal discourse, is a person's inner voice which provides a running verbal monologue of thoughts while they are conscious."

I don't have an "inner voice" either which makes it even less likely, the way I think is different but I get the same outcome, I suppose.That first sentence alone just makes it sound like you are describing an inner monologue though?

[Jessica.]

Also this isn't something I wish for or to try to be different like a flat earther because it's depressing to not even remember my boyfriends face when I'm not looking at it or my families faces or voices as I live in a different country from them

[Josy]

I think I'm really lucky now when I read it plays like a film in my head and I see the characters and hear their voices ( well you know, imagine their accents and such.I'm the exact same

[Jessica.]

I think I'm really lucky now when I read it plays like a film in my head and I see the characters and hear their voices ( well you know, imagine their accents and such.

My bf told me that when he reads a book it's like he has a comic book going in his head and when he reads a comic book it plays like a film. It was crazy to hear it described like that

[Josy]

I have a "JD from Scrubs" type inner monologue, while my ex thinks in "concepts". I remember asking him once at what age he thought people's inner monologues might start (he wants to go into psych) and he had no idea what I was on about...What do they mean though, think in concepts?

[Jessica.]

That first sentence alone just makes it sound like you are describing an inner monologue though?

A monologue is like a run-on thing though, isn't it, like not sporadic?

[Jessica.]

What do they mean though, think in concepts?

If someone tells me to think of a pizza then I can't imagine a pizza but I know what a pizza is, it's round and has bread and cheese and toppings etc.. I think of the concept and the facts of it but not an actual pizza

[Josy]

A monologue is like a run-on thing though, isn't it, like not sporadic?I would describe my inner monologue as like a narrator lol

When you read a sentence/comment its words running in a sequence so how do you do that

[Josy]

How do memories work for you then Jess?

[Kizzy]

You don't see a freshly cooked pizza with cheese all stringy and delicious ( yes I'm still juicing :( )

My head hurts, I'm gonna ask about see if I know anyone who thinks this way.

[Jessica.]

I would describe my inner monologue as like a narrator lol

When you read a sentence/comment its words running in a sequence so how do you do that

It's not really narrating to me, I just like absorb the meaning on the word, idk, like I don't do it when I'm typing because I'm not right now but when I'm reading I just like breath in a certain way to voice the words to myself, idk. I guess it's a monologue in some fotm when I'm reading but not for everything else? It's really hard to explain when I can't really fathom the fact that other people have a whole voice in their heads that's dictating their thoughts and actions

[Jessica.]

How do memories work for you then Jess?

Badly, I don't have any visual memories, I just remember the facts of what happened, I'm kind of glad though because my early life was quite crap and I don't ever have to reexperience any of it.

[Jessica.]

You don't see a freshly cooked pizza with cheese all stringy and delicious ( yes I'm still juicing :( )

My head hurts, I'm gonna ask about see if I know anyone who thinks this way.

Nope, I've never imagined anything in my life, sometimes if I close my eyes really tight I can see colours on the backs of my eyelids for a second but I think that's a physical thing with the eyes and not imagination 😂

[Kizzy]

Nope, I've never imagined anything in my life, sometimes if I close my eyes really tight I can see colours on the backs of my eyelids for a second but I think that's a physical thing with the eyes and not imagination 😂

Aw Jessica :( it seems really sad, maybe you could practice? Maybe draw a pizza and then try to imagine it all cooked and in colour?

[Jessica.]

Aw Jessica :( it seems really sad, maybe you could practice? Maybe draw a pizza and then try to imagine it all cooked and in colour?

I've tried loads of times, apparently the best time is at night before sleep and I've tried that. I'm not really sad about it. I've chatted lots of other people who are the same as me thanks to online communities and stuff, it doesn't make me sad, I've come this far in life without that ability. I'd love to learn more about it but it's still early, it was only discovered to be an actual way of thinking in 2014 when a man woke up from anaesthesia without the ability to create mental images after previously being able to for his life whole life. There's a study going on at a University in the UK, I've done a survey for them.

[Marsh.]

If someone tells me to think of a pizza then I can't imagine a pizza but I know what a pizza is, it's round and has bread and cheese and toppings etc.. I think of the concept and the facts of it but not an actual pizza

:eek: You can't visualise anything?

[Marsh.]

Aw Jessica :( it seems really sad, maybe you could practice? Maybe draw a pizza and then try to imagine it all cooked and in colour?

:joker::joker::joker:

[Jessica.]

:eek: You can't visualise anything?

Nope, it's called aphantasia

[Jessica.]

There are many ways of imagining things though, I have a friend who doesn't think in colour, everything he vizualizes is in black & white :joker:

[Marsh.]

It's not really narrating to me, I just like absorb the meaning on the word, idk, like I don't do it when I'm typing because I'm not right now but when I'm reading I just like breath in a certain way to voice the words to myself, idk. I guess it's a monologue in some fotm when I'm reading but not for everything else? It's really hard to explain when I can't really fathom the fact that other people have a whole voice in their heads that's dictating their thoughts and actions

The voice isn't dictating, it's just verbalising your thoughts. It's not like a voice of God.

[Morgan.]

Nope, it's called aphantasia

Do you have dreams then or not?

(As in like sleep dreams not aspiration :joker:)

[Marsh.]

(As in like sleep dreams not aspiration :joker:)

:joker:

[Mystic Mock]

Nope, it's called aphantasia

Well at least it's not a necessity in life to need.

You've definitely taught me some new things that I never knew about today Jessica.

[Jessica.]

Do you have dreams then or not?

(As in like sleep dreams not aspiration :joker:)

Dreams happen in a different part of the brain, I think where memory is processed, so I do dream, I just don't remember them visually

[Kizzy]

I've tried loads of times, apparently the best time is at night before sleep and I've tried that. I'm not really sad about it. I've chatted lots of other people who are the same as me thanks to online communities and stuff, it doesn't make me sad, I've come this far in life without that ability. I'd love to learn more about it but it's still early, it was only discovered to be an actual way of thinking in 2014 when a man woke up from anaesthesia without the ability to create mental images after previously being able to for his life whole life. There's a study going on at a University in the UK, I've done a survey for them.

Do you think it could be a survival technique for trauma then maybe, you did mention some bad experiences yourself. Could this be that by blocking them out it blocks out everything else?
Do you have a link for it or any info on this thanks?

[Jessica.]

Do you think it could be a survival technique for trauma then maybe, you did mention some bad experiences yourself. Could this be that by blocking them out it blocks out everything else?
Do you have a link for it or any info on this thanks?

No, I'm in a Facebook group with thousands of people and there isn't really anything consistent (people from the study are in it too). We haven't really found a link between our lives, there are people from everywhere, all ages and some had great childhoods with both parents present while some were less fortunate.

[Jessica.]

This is the first article I ever read about it

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-34039054

[Marsh.]

I suppose this is obviously why you get such different people from creative types and genius mathematicians and autism etc, it's all the differing ways the mind works. So interesting.

[Jessica.]

I suppose this is obviously why you get such different people from creative types and genius mathematicians and autism etc, it's all the differing ways the mind works. So interesting.

Yeah, it's really fascinating. When I found out that counting sheep was not just a metaphor for counting quietly and that people actually imagined sheep jumping along I was flabbergasted, I couldn't believe it!

[Marsh.]

Yeah, I remember doing a test in school which told you whether you were a visual, audio or kinaesthetic learner, which I guess is what that was all about.

Did you learn more from actually doing physical activities, Jess? Then there's no need to visualise as you are actually doing it?

[Jessica.]

Yeah, I remember doing a test in school which told you whether you were a visual, audio or kinaesthetic learner, which I guess is what that was all about.

Did you learn more from actually doing physical activities, Jess? Then there's no need to visualise as you are actually doing it?

Yeah, I am definitely more of a hands on learner, I need to be doing things and engaging myself if I want to retain information more efficiently.

[Josy]

Badly, I don't have any visual memories, I just remember the facts of what happened, I'm kind of glad though because my early life was quite crap and I don't ever have to reexperience any of it.Oh really :omgno: that sounds really weird and also sad but I guess like you say it can be a good thing too for certain people.

[Oliver_W]

What do they mean though, think in concepts?

He didn't know how to explain it because to him it just happened, I guess it's like trying to explain how to wave or something :laugh:

[Kizzy]

This is the first article I ever read about it

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-34039054
Great link really interesting thanks :)

[Ammi]

This is the first article I ever read about it

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-34039054

...that’s a really interesting read, Jess...my head can never relate a visual of things like..’imagine yourself on a beautiful beach’/type thing...first imagine the beach...etc...I don’t create images for some stuff...but if I were to be really engrossed in a fictional book, for instance..?...the characters would start to take on forms, as if their story were playing on a movie screen and not on a written page...this is a really fascinating topic...

[bots]

Memory functions can be learned though, and imagination is a function of memory.

For example, unless you can imagine your own front door or your own car, you would never be able to find them again :laugh:

[Ammi]

...I guess that’s where I sometimes feel a bit disadvantaged at not having the visuals..I swear to the gods that my car is often not where I left it...

[Josy]

Memory functions can be learned though, and imagination is a function of memory.



For example, unless you can imagine your own front door or your own car, you would never be able to find them again [emoji23]Yeah I'm having trouble understanding how it's even possible tbh and I've been reading loads on it

[Jessica.]

You can remember things without having physically seen them though. If you learn a new word from someone during a conversation then you haven't seen it written down but you can still remember it. The memory is not affected by this. That's a different part of the brain. I can still remember things, I just can't visualise them. If I got robbed by a scary looking person then I wouldn't be able to describe them to a sketch artist but I could identify them in a line of possible suspects.

[Jessica.]

Also, how do blind people remember things? Some of them have never seen their own front door in their lives. The brain is capable of more than you think

[Kizzy]

Memory functions can be learned though, and imagination is a function of memory.

For example, unless you can imagine your own front door or your own car, you would never be able to find them again :laugh:

Glad you've managed to clear that up then bots... Jessica will be pleased. You know your car is blue you know the make and the reg, that's how most find their car they don't just imagine a blue car.

[Crimson Dynamo]

We used to do a presentation to ad agencies about the "Theatre of the Mind" and how music works as a brilliant memory aid

We would play

"I see a little silhouetto of a man"


and then stop the music, pic an exec and say "next" and they would say "Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango?" point to another and they would say "Thunderbolt and lightning,Very, very frightening me." :joker:

I find it amazing that of say Wuthering Heights comes on the radio i can remember the words and all the melody without much effort

[Cherie]

Gosh that's weird, I play out a lot of scenarios in my mind, I can't imagine not being able to do that

[Kizzy]

We used to do a presentation to ad agencies about the "Theatre of the Mind" and how music works as a brilliant memory aid

We would play

"I see a little silhouetto of a man"


and then stop the music, pic an exec and say "next" and they would say "Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango?" point to another and they would say "Thunderbolt and lightning,Very, very frightening me." :joker:

I find it amazing that of say Wuthering Heights comes on the radio i can remember the words and all the melody without much effort
That's just parroting learned text though isn't it? You can learn the words to a song very easily, but can you imagine the video that accompanies the song?

[Crimson Dynamo]

That's just parroting learned text though isn't it? You can learn the words to a song very easily, but can you imagine the video that accompanies the song?

yes, just like one smell can transport you back to a very specific place and date in your childhood

[Kizzy]

yes, just like one smell can transport you back to a very specific place and date in your childhood

But that's the whole point, if you don't have a memory of that time how do you feel? Just inexplicably scared or happy?

[Niamh.]

I would describe my inner monologue as like a narrator lol

When you read a sentence/comment its words running in a sequence so how do you do that

Same, I never shut up in my own head, not a big actual talker though in real life :laugh:

[Cherie]

Same, I never shut up in my own head, not a big actual talker though in real life :laugh:

Omg I’m the same :laugh: always talking away in my head :joker:

[Niamh.]

Omg I’m the same :laugh: always talking away in my head :joker:

Or replaying scenarios in my head over and over or running imaginary ones. My personal favourite is planning out how to spend my euro millions win (when it happens)

[Mystic Mock]

Same, I never shut up in my own head, not a big actual talker though in real life :laugh:

Sadly I'm just quite loud inside my head and IRL.:bawling:

Although bizarrely get quite awkward around strangers.:joker:

[Josy]

Same, I never shut up in my own head, not a big actual talker though in real life [emoji23]Omg I’m the same [emoji23] always talking away in my head :joker:Or replaying scenarios in my head over and over or running imaginary ones. My personal favourite is planning out how to spend my euro millions win (when it happens)This is me [emoji23]

I even know in my mind the design of the house I'll build when I win the lotto

[Niamh.]

This is me [emoji23]

I even know in my mind the design of the house I'll build when I win the lotto

Me too :flutter: (although House's)

[user104658]

I mentioned this to my wife - a mental health professional - a couple of weeks ago... saying that I have a very clear inner voice, all the time, and sometimes it won't shut up no matter how much I want it to... she was like ":omgno: err that sounds like schizophrenia?" then when she looked up inner monologue on Google and discovered that MOST people have one, she was utterly baffled :joker:.

[Niamh.]

I mentioned this to my wife - a mental health professional - a couple of weeks ago... saying that I have a very clear inner voice, all the time, and sometimes it won't shut up no matter how much I want it to... she was like ":omgno: err that sounds like schizophrenia?" then when she looked up inner monologue on Google and discovered that MOST people have one, she was utterly baffled :joker:.

I think I'd be kind of lonely without mine.....and definitely bored :laugh:

[user104658]

I think I'd be kind of lonely without mine.....and definitely bored :laugh:

Depends on the day for me. Sometimes I love my own company, sometimes I wind myself right up, paranoid annoying arsehole whining in my ear all day :fist:.

[Crimson Dynamo]

I literally spend hours in my head working out how I am going to launder £5,000,000 quid in cash that got thrown out a van in a police chase that I pulled over to avoid - no cctv as i was in the countryside and the cops and robbers did not see my reg.

SO i cant just put it in my bank and i have to keep it safe, dry, in a fireproof safe but where and i tell no one and i dont want anyone to notice i am doing anything unusual. Essentially i am going around the UK buying art and antiques and then reselling them at other auctions as well as continuing to work etc

madness

[Niamh.]

Sounds like more effort than it's worth LT :laugh:

[Crimson Dynamo]

Sounds like more effort than it's worth LT :laugh:

its a tough one but i have done £500,000 so far and no one is the wiser

[Niamh.]

its a tough one but i have done £500,000 so far and no one is the wiser

:laugh:

Do you remember that film Shallow Grave?

[Crimson Dynamo]

:laugh:

Do you remember that film Shallow Grave?

yes

thankfully its just me that finds it and i aint telling anyone in case it goes Shallow Grave:shocked:

[Niamh.]

yes

thankfully its just me that finds it and i aint telling anyone in case it goes Shallow Grave:shocked:

Well you've told me now

https://media.giphy.com/media/F9xtKvzKTMVYA/giphy.gif

[arista]

If I'm not thinking then there's nothing going on in my head, for example like doing a menial task like making a coffee, my heads just blank and I don't really think or have any kind of "monologue"


Its Not activated yet
in your life

[arista]

...I guess that’s where I sometimes feel a bit disadvantaged at not having the visuals..I swear to the gods that my car is often not where I left it...

You sound normal.

[arista]

This is me [emoji23]

I even know in my mind the design of the house I'll build when I win the lotto


Yes Nice Shower Room.

[Cherie]

its a tough one but i have done £500,000 so far and no one is the wiser

:joker:

[Alf]

I have no idea what you people are talking about.

[Calderyon]

Yes.

[Jessica.]

Its Not activated yet
in your life

What is that supposed to mean?

[Crimson Dynamo]

Well you've told me now

https://media.giphy.com/media/F9xtKvzKTMVYA/giphy.gif

https://media.giphy.com/media/TUnBFloPzu6as/giphy.gif

[Josy]

I have no idea what you people are talking about.There is a description and a video link in the first post...