For some people, ruminating thoughts are a way to control anxiety. It may mean you're replaying life events in an attempt to make sure that next time, you're prepared and won't feel as anxious. Repeating entire conversations in your head is a type of rumination. It's how your mind attempts to self-soothe.
Everyone talks in their head occasionally. You do this to process what you're experiencing, weigh decisions, or as a defense mechanism when you're nervous. Ignoring this self-talk probably won't make it go away, but acknowledging it for a few seconds may actually help it stop.
"Frequent racing thoughts may be related to anxiety disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma, or other mental health issues that need exploring," says Fabrett.
Stress causes your body to release cortisol, and cortisol helps you stay alert. This means that your brain stays alert, too — even when you don't want it to. Cortisol can also cause physical symptoms of anxiety that can keep you from relaxing or sleeping.
Racing thoughts: People with ADHD may experience a constant flow of thoughts, making it difficult to focus on any one thing. This can lead to racing thoughts that are hard to control and can interfere with daily life.
While rapid, excessive, or impulsive talking may be idiosyncrasies that merely reflect an individual's personality, upbringing, or experiences, compulsive or pressured talking is often an indicator of a psychiatric condition, such as a mood or personality disorder.
In fact, "thought-chatter" is completely normal for human beings. Usually, whenever our attention isn't occupied, a stream of mental associations flows through our minds — thoughts about the future or the past, fragments of songs or conversations, daydreams about alternative realities or friends or celebrities.
For some people, ruminating thoughts are a way to control anxiety. It may mean you're replaying life events in an attempt to make sure that next time, you're prepared and won't feel as anxious. Repeating entire conversations in your head is a type of rumination. It's how your mind attempts to self-soothe.
Sometimes you might find yourself engaging in self-talk centered on rumination, or continuously talking about the same sad, negative, dark thoughts. This type of self-talk may be a sign of a mental health condition such as depression. Self-talk can also be a concern if it occurs as a result of hallucinations.
It's common to think that if you hear voices, you must have a mental health problem. But research shows that many people hear voices and don't have a mental health problem. It's quite a common human experience.
The practice of talking to yourself goes by many names. Some call it self-talk. Others refer to it as inner dialogue, inner monologue or inner speech. “There are so many terms for it because it really is just that normal,” notes Dr.
They may also find that they have difficulty categorising or naming objects they see or think about. Alternatively, damage to the right temporal lobe can lead to excessive talking.
While overthinking itself is not a mental illness, it is associated with conditions including depression, anxiety, eating disorders and substance use disorders. Rumination can be common in people who have chronic pain and chronic illness as well, taking the form of negative thoughts about that pain and healing from it.
Kids and adults with ADHD may also monopolize conversations and talk excessively. 2 Some parents might refer to it as "diarrhea of the mouth." It is like hyperactivity with words. Talking too much can be hard for kids, parents, and teachers alike.
Adults with ADHD frequently think being sociable with others is an all-or-nothing part of their lives. Either they're oversharing and talking too much, or they're withdrawn and staying home alone. Hyperactivity in adults is often expressed as being overly talkative and boisterous.
If you're highly self-conscious or socially anxious, worrying about being perceived as a “toxic person” might lead you to under-share your needs and to a lack of connection with others. On the other hand, oversharing may be a trauma response or a sign that you are ready for or need support.
You might be overwhelmed by the number of tasks on your to-do list or find it difficult to sit still for long periods. Your mind is always going and racing with thoughts, which can make it hard for you to concentrate on things like schoolwork or conversations with friends or family members.
With ADHD, that part of the brain is always turned on, which causes the endless look of intrusive thoughts to replay in your head like a bad song. In short, when you have ADHD and your Default Mode Network region is wired neurodivergent, it makes your mind wander on a continuous loop.