Am I Insane?

[Eggsnham]

First things first, I know that talking to oneself is completely normal and as long there's nobody talking back inside your head, then you're fine.

That said: I tend to have full conversations with myself in my head. I know it's just me, I'm not hearing any voices other than my own, but still... I'm talking like full blown, balls to the wall conversations. I sometimes even try to explain to myself concepts that I already understand completely, as if I'm talking to somebody who doesn't know what I'm talking about and if I try to stop explaining whatever it is midway through, I get all irritated, as if I've just left myself ignorant of whatever it was I was explaining... to myself. Something that I already knew about. Jesus, that sounds even more ridiculous now that I've just typed it out... and it sounded pretty damn ridiculous to begin with.

I'll occasionally even debate things with myself. Just any given controversial topic that happens to be on my mind that day, I'll present myself with an argument and then proceed to try and formulate a counter-argument.

Now, I've been doing this for years and I've yet to snap and invent new personalities for myself, or just let it all hit the fan and go commit mass murder or something equally horrible, so I figure I'm doing something right (or perhaps just not doing anything wrong in the first place), but the more I think about it, the more I think that it sounds fairly abnormal... and then I come up with a counter-argument about why it IS normal. You can probably see where this is going.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Considering that I'm not real and just a figment of your fevered psyche?

Probably not.

Talking to yourself is fine if it helps you work out problems.


Also, you should burn things.

All the things

 

[OneCatch]

but the more I think about it, the more I think that it sounds fairly abnormal... and then I come up with a counter-argument about why it IS normal. You can probably see where this is going.

I also debate myself in my head. I don't think that's weird - it's just a process of forming an opinion, and then testing it for inconsistencies. And it gets tiring when you're rolling counter-arguments and counter-counter arguments around ad-nausium.

But what d'you mean by actually explaining things to yourself? That's something I don't quite 'get'.

 

[Eggsnham]

but the more I think about it, the more I think that it sounds fairly abnormal... and then I come up with a counter-argument about why it IS normal. You can probably see where this is going.

I also debate myself in my head. I don't think that's weird - it's just a process of forming an opinion, and then testing it for inconsistencies. And it gets tiring when you're rolling counter-arguments and counter-counter arguments around ad-nausium.

But what d'you mean by actually explaining things to yourself? That's something I don't quite 'get'.

I mean that I actually go through the process of explaining how something (anything that happens to catch my attention at the time) works, to myself... even though I already know how it works.

Considering that I'm not real and just a figment of your fevered psyche?

Probably not.

Talking to yourself is fine if it helps you work out problems.


Also, you should burn things.

All the things

... Okay!

 

[OneCatch]

but the more I think about it, the more I think that it sounds fairly abnormal... and then I come up with a counter-argument about why it IS normal. You can probably see where this is going.

I also debate myself in my head. I don't think that's weird - it's just a process of forming an opinion, and then testing it for inconsistencies. And it gets tiring when you're rolling counter-arguments and counter-counter arguments around ad-nausium.

But what d'you mean by actually explaining things to yourself? That's something I don't quite 'get'.

I mean that I actually go through the process of explaining how something (anything that happens to catch my attention at the time) works, to myself... even though I already know how it works.

Well that's not something I've done or would do, but it doesn't really seem harmful.
It seems to be to rote memorisation what the aforementioned mental debate is to actual debate. And wow, that's a convoluted sentence, but I can't work out how to parse it.

...Anyway, I wouldn't worry!

 

[Johnny Impact]

I do that too. Now we're a conspiracy! Muahahahaha!

Nah. Don't think it's a problem. Most people could use a bit more self-reflection. Might help them to make better choices.

 

[Able Seacat]

"Insane people are always sure that they are fine. It is only the sane people who are willing to admit that they are crazy." Nora Ephron.

Spoiler: Advice for your truly insane days

 

[sky14kemea]

I do that too, glad I'm also not the only one.

Though I tend to insult myself a lot more. I have the "brutally honest" part that tells me to pull my shit together, and then the "overly nice" part that tells me I deserve a break.

Sometimes I'm having conversations with both those "personas" at the same time, so I end up in a 3-way argument with myself, in my head.

It's a damn good thing I don't talk out loud.

 

[thesilentman]

No you're not. I do this too, and I find that it's a good way to check for counterpoints to discuss, if I'm debating a point. You're not the only one.

 

[White Lightning]

If you can admit you're insane, you're probably not. But don't worry! Soon you'll lose it and that's when it gets fun!

 

[HardkorSB]

First things first, I know that talking to oneself is completely normal and as long there's nobody talking back inside your head, then you're fine.

That said: I tend to have full conversations with myself in my head. I know it's just me, I'm not hearing any voices other than my own, but still... I'm talking like full blown, balls to the wall conversations. I sometimes even try to explain to myself concepts that I already understand completely, as if I'm talking to somebody who doesn't know what I'm talking about and if I try to stop explaining whatever it is midway through, I get all irritated, as if I've just left myself ignorant of whatever it was I was explaining... to myself. Something that I already knew about. Jesus, that sounds even more ridiculous now that I've just typed it out... and it sounded pretty damn ridiculous to begin with.

I'll occasionally even debate things with myself. Just any given controversial topic that happens to be on my mind that day, I'll present myself with an argument and then proceed to try and formulate a counter-argument.

Now, I've been doing this for years and I've yet to snap and invent new personalities for myself, or just let it all hit the fan and go commit mass murder or something equally horrible, so I figure I'm doing something right (or perhaps just not doing anything wrong in the first place), but the more I think about it, the more I think that it sounds fairly abnormal... and then I come up with a counter-argument about why it IS normal. You can probably see where this is going.

I think that if you aren't having conversations with yourself inside your head, you're not using your brain all that much. That's how you solve more complicated problems by yourself.
Take for example the people who pray and "talk with god". That's really a conversation with yourself. The brain is subconsciously using god because in the mind of that person, god is the ultimate authority. Usually "god" is talking to you when you've got mixed feelings/thoughts about something or you just don't know how to react to something.
"God" knows everything about you because you are "god" but you are also the person that "god" is talking to. The human brain has the ability to fool itself, that's why so many people are convinced that they really are talking to god.
Schizophrenia is just an extreme example of that. The brain is so good at fooling itself that it even creates sensory hallucinations (but those are extreme cases).
It's even possible to convince your brain that something that hasn't happen to you has happen to you (it takes a long time though and it's usually not a conscious process). If you can do that, your brain will even create fake memories, fragments of events that never happen.

Another thing is that picturing things in your head is also a conversation with yourself but with visuals instead of words.

 

[Duncan Belfast]

Pretty sure that's just an internal debate. I have those all the time.

"She's stopped responding. Oh god. I gave too much info and made things weird. Now I've lost her forever."
"Dude, chill."
"But-"
"Dude, think about the other conversations you've had. You've discussed {DATA EXPUNGED] for fuck's sake. You're not going to make things weird."
"But why did she suddenly take so long?"
"There are plenty of perfectly good reasons. Her schedule doesn't revolve around you. She's been away from home for a long time and is probably visiting her friends. And unlike you, she won't get withdrawal symptoms if she goes more than a day without her computer. Now chill."
"Yeah, you're probably right."

Take for example the people who pray and "talk with god". That's really a conversation with yourself. The brain is subconsciously using god because in the mind of that person, god is the ultimate authority. Usually "god" is talking to you when you've got mixed feelings/thoughts about something or you just don't know how to react to something.
"God" knows everything about you because you are "god" but you are also the person that "god" is talking to. The human brain has the ability to fool itself, that's why so many people are convinced that they really are talking to god.

"Ah, that would explain it."
"See? I told you it was statistically unlikely that an experience shared by such a large percentage of the population would be the result of insanity."
"That and the implications of that are terrible. 'People who experience things I don't are insane'. Classy..."
"I think we've all grown today."
"Let's get food."

 

[Angelous Wang]

Sanity is weakness. Sanity is submissive. Sanity is boring.

Insanity is being strong enough to develop your own mind free from the "sheep" like template society demands you have so that you can play nice and it can control you. Think and behave as you want to or as you instinctive do, regardless of any rules or "normals". Just make sure you can handle the consequences of whatever you do, because when you break it's rules society will notice you and fight back.

The world is only an interesting place because of insanity. Think of all the historical greatest inventors, artists and musicians, the word "eccentric" used very often, which of course it just societies term for accepted insanity.

Insanity is a huge what makes you a unique individual, rather than just another human.

Unless your insanity is caused by brain trauma, disease or an infection, then yes you got a problem.

 

[Chris Tian]

First things first, I know that talking to oneself is completely normal and as long there's nobody talking back inside your head, then you're fine.

That said: I tend to have full conversations with myself in my head. I know it's just me, I'm not hearing any voices other than my own, but still... I'm talking like full blown, balls to the wall conversations. I sometimes even try to explain to myself concepts that I already understand completely, as if I'm talking to somebody who doesn't know what I'm talking about and if I try to stop explaining whatever it is midway through, I get all irritated, as if I've just left myself ignorant of whatever it was I was explaining... to myself. Something that I already knew about. Jesus, that sounds even more ridiculous now that I've just typed it out... and it sounded pretty damn ridiculous to begin with.

I'll occasionally even debate things with myself. Just any given controversial topic that happens to be on my mind that day, I'll present myself with an argument and then proceed to try and formulate a counter-argument.

Now, I've been doing this for years and I've yet to snap and invent new personalities for myself, or just let it all hit the fan and go commit mass murder or something equally horrible, so I figure I'm doing something right (or perhaps just not doing anything wrong in the first place), but the more I think about it, the more I think that it sounds fairly abnormal... and then I come up with a counter-argument about why it IS normal. You can probably see where this is going.

Your question already answers your question. Let me explain, asking a question like this shows a certain level of introspection, and in most psychological conditions one could describe as "insane" introspection is what goes out the window first.

So as long as you can ask yourself "am I insane" you are probably not.

 

[Hero of Lime]

I would say no, if you believed the other voice was its own entity, or as you said created new personalities, then there would be a problem. I don't have full conversations with my self, but I do think aloud sometimes usually when no one else is around, so I would sound kinda crazy.

So you should have very little to worry about, and my talking gumball machine agrees!

 

[Ratties]

Find that talking to yourself in your own mind is usually better than whats going on around you. There are several things that come up in our daily routine that are just to boring not to. I do it quite a bit at work. I don't give two shits about how I can help this company that I have no real investment in. I do my what they pay me to do, day dream all day. Now there are some people that talk out loud to themselves. You know whenever I see that, it makes me smile because it's like having a viewing window to their boring mundane thoughts.

 

[Zhukov]

I do that too.

I assumed all people did, or at least most of 'em.

Explaining something to yourself as you would to a person who doesn't know of it is a good way to clarify your views on something. As for debating with yourself, how else are you supposed to resolve something over which you have conflicting thought?

 

[JagermanXcell]

The way I see it, if you're not crazy then you're boring, and no one likes boring.

When theres no one around, yeah I talk to myself like Will Smith in Independence Day does with unconscious aliens. Usually to get things of my chest with that one alter ego I have. Not to mention I'm getting into writing, that in it of itself makes insanity a great way to discover deeper forms of imagination and creative thinking.
Let me tell you its VERY therapeutic, your sub conscious is in my experience the smartest thing you'll ever get to know

Spooky but practical.

 

[Mikkel421427]

Of course you're not insane. I mean, I talk to myself all the time. Sometimes, I just need a professional opinion.