I do this thing where as I’m driving i’ll just absentmindedly start essentially having conversations, with myself, out loud. It’s not like i’m practicing a conversation I expect to happen, it’s always about random shit that would never come up unprompted. I always catch myself doing it, and then have a fake conversation with myself about explaining to someone that i have fake conversations. Like I’ll be thinking about something I read or a game and i’ll start talking about it out loud as if I was explaining it to someone.
I don’t think it’s anxiety/social awkwardness, I’m pretty social and outgoing so I’m not sure why I do this. I just do it while driving without really realizing
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Yes. And go through conversations I’ve already had saying what I would if I could go back
yeah,
Every normal person has them, I’d be more worried If you started seeing yourself and having a conversation with your doppelgänger.
Yeah, or in the shower. You’re basically stuck doing a simple task that requires very little brain power. The mind will wander, and fabricating a conversation is common.
Have this all the time. Usually play out scenarios as well just absolutely won’t happen or haven’t happened yet.
Also play out situations which I wish I had changed.
Depending on where I am off too, I might mentally prepare myself haha!
All the time. Happens in the bathroom too. I worry at work that they aren’t always in my head. lol
Always. In my head and out loud. Almost always in any private time. I’m usually practicing snappy comebacks and witty jokes.
Ever since I bought a bike I feel like I got 70%crazier, I yell, make noises, like a monkey, idk what happens to me but it’s fun
Yes, but then you’ll just be another fraudster.
Yes, as long as it doesn’t affect your ability to focus on the road and cars around you.
Idk, is it?
– No, it’s normal.
Is it though?
– Nah, it’s unnormal.
You mean like ‘ Shit, I missed my turn. How do I get back?’. or ‘What the hell is Google Maps doing?’ ?
Some of my best conversations are with myself out loud😏
Yes, definitely. Sometimes I even argue with myself, and occasionally win, if I’m not pretending to be arguing with my wife.
Only driving? I do it all the time
Sure hope so. Catch myself doing it often.
I do it all the time, make sure my reflexes are working
As opposed to meaningful conversations with yourself?
I don’t have them with myself, but I do have arguments in my head with other people. These can either be arguments that have not happened, and, likely, will not happen, or arguments that happened, but I didn’t say what I wanted to say, so I say it in my pretend scenario.
I think it’s pretty normal as it’s just a form of processing situations. I’d go a step further and say it’s probably healthy.
Most people do it within their head only, not out loud. I noticed someone do that while showering and thought it was odd and funny but I recognized that it’s what many people do but just out loud.
Yes this is normal.
I hope so. 😬
Wait, there are people who don’t?! 😦
I find that it helps tremendously with organization—
“Alright bitch, we’ve gotta hit four stops and then we’re home. Walmart’s gotta be last, so where are we starting?”
It’s sort of an Irish trait.
At my desk while working an engineering problem. Also dry runs of a speech coming up.
Homies, does this mean we should stock up and/or find a plug? Is this law now or will it take time to come into effect? Does anyone else have to sign off on it or is it like today this shit is fr
I do this while talking the public transport and i have headphones on so it looks like I’m talking to someone.
Oh same all the time!
You know what isn’t normal?
That we live in a world so disconnected from itself, someone has to ask if speaking their thoughts out loud is weird, when it’s actually a feature and not a bug.. it’s how you gain clarity on things.
What the fuck happened?
Short answer:
Yes, it’s normal. You’re not broken, you’re using a built‑in cognitive feature.
What’s really going on (plain terms)
Once you’ve driven for years, most of the job is run by your cerebellum and basal ganglia.
The “front‑of‑house” cortex is suddenly idle, so it starts playing with ideas the way a leg bounces when you sit still.
Everyone narrates inside; you’ve just moved it from silent subvocalization to audible words.
Talking out loud recruits auditory and motor circuits, which amplifies clarity and memory retention (self‑explanation effect).
The brain’s default mode network loves to rehearse social scenarios—even imaginary ones—because predicting people is survival‑critical.
It doesn’t care that no passenger exists; it just runs the “explain‑to‑tribe” script.
Speech and gesture burn a trickle of glucose and keep you alert—handy on a monotonous highway.
That’s why the behavior often fades when traffic gets intense; executive control has real work again.
Pathology shows up as voices you can’t control or content that distresses you.
Choosing to speak, switching topics at will, and remembering the dialogue means you’re firmly in the healthy range.
Useful labels you can drop in the thread
Dialogic thinking – treating thought as a back‑and‑forth conversation.
Self‑explanation effect – learning/memory boost from teaching concepts to an imagined listener.
Default Mode Network (DMN) – brain system that spins up stories whenever external demands are low.
Autonomous self‑talk vs. intrusive voices – keeps the “am I crazy?” question clear.
Quick lit references (so you look credible)
Brinthaupt, T. M. “Individual differences in self‑talk frequency: social isolation and cognitive disruption.” (2019)
Fleming, S. M. & Dolan, R. J. “The neural basis of metacognitive ability.” (2012)
Morin, A. “Inner speech and consciousness.” (2005)
TL;DR for the commenter you’re answering
> Driving puts the body on autopilot, freeing the mind. Out‑loud self‑talk is just your brain’s way of clarifying thoughts and simulating social exchange. It’s common, boosts memory, and only becomes a problem if the voices stop feeling like yours.
Drop that, nod once, shift gears. Done.
You are fine. When there are voices in your head and you aren’t part of the conversation, then its time to seek help🤣🤣🤣
Seriously though. Hey you are your best friend who has no secrets and you can absolutely trust no matter what. So talking to yourself is just your brains natural way of processing information in a playful way. Your brains kinda funny, and I figured out something when I was taking meditation classes when I was younger.
When you meditate and try to concentrate on the mantra, your brain gets kinda bored, and will try to trip you up by creating imagery, or try other clever ways to bring you out of focus. And this is easy to recreate and you will get my point and laugh. Ok, here it is…
Relax your body in a quiet place and just concenrrate on the number 1 with each exhale. You’ll see what I am referring to. 😀
No. …. and it’s weird how many of you do this.
Yes. It helps relieve stress
‘s normal to do when you’re by yourself and working through something. around others, not so much.
It’s more common to have them in your head, not out loud. I mean are you voicing both sides of the conversation? That sounds a bit odd.
I practice conversations with my unborn kids when I’m alone. If its not normal, then we’re weird together my friend.
Yeah, it’s totally normal! A lot of people do it without even realizing it. It’s a form of self-talk, which can help with decision-making or sorting out feelings. It’s also pretty common when you’re in a low-stimulation environment like driving, where your brain can focus on something other than the road.
For me? Not out loud, but in my head? Absolutely… Not just while driving but more or less constantly unless I’m listening to or otherwise participating in an external conversation
Tons of people talk to themselves all the time. Some people do it out loud, some only in their heads.