TED-Ed

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Is it normal to talk to yourself?

Video Overview & Insights

Dig into the psychological benefits of positive self-talk, and find out when it can become problematic.

“

Sometimes thinking out loud has got me punched in the face.

— @lordofthehouseofstormcrows8615

Being caught talking to yourself can feel embarrassing, and some people even stigmatize this behavior as a sign of mental instability. But decades of research show that talking to yourself is completely normal; most if not all of us engage in some form of self-talk every day. So why do we talk to ourselves? And does what we say matter? Dig into the psychological benefits of positive self-talk.

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I use soliloquy mostly to analyse and theorise. I think it helps my clarity of thought.

— @RichardWilkin

Directed by Avi Ofer.

This video made possible in collaboration with Character Lab

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The thing about me is that I'm a conscious self-talker. I DECIDE to talk to myself because I think it's fun, or it reduces my anxiety, and optimizes my mental status.
This video didn't cover this one I suppose

— @RexaGram

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“

So it okey to fake am a huge youtuber on my mirror, and I'm not falling crazy

— @natsmtzz

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I'm tired of talking to myself all the time

— @chuuistalking

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“

Talk to anybody (except oneself): "This person has great social skills."
Talk to oneself and they label you as "crazy and mentally ill"

— @RyujinJenner

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I also talk to my self whenever I am alone

— @NovaislamRitu

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It's good to put a headset on while out in public and talk as much as you want to yourself without earning stares.

— @Aiswarya_Biju.

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This video was amazing, learned a lot.

— @KhadijaKhatun-l5w

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Keep Learning

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I do have mind conversations with myself but the other reply I get from myself I call herself as elder sister but now I don't if I am mentally unstable for doing so am I okay ? I don't know if anyone reading this what do you think about my situation? I can't ask this to anyone because I don't have friends

— @Knowledgeispower-m9o1o

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View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/is-it-normal-to-talk-to-yourself

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My own comfort honestly, sometimes i tend to be so respectful about somebody whenever theyre part of my topic. Telling myself its not a good thing to say about them, even tho no existing person is listening. I always make a deal with myself if im wrong im gonna be doing this and that for punishment. And sometimes im too lazy to do it and basically forgets abt it.

— @SavanahMargallo

Dig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/is-it-normal-to-talk-to-yourself#digdeeper

Animator's website: https://aviofer.com

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Why can i hear an italian mobster, a private investigator and Dexter Morgen giving me life advice?

— @goldyboy-b7e

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Talking to myself when I am alone is all about figuring out how to repair many things inside me... It's great 😅

— @ahmedabdelbary3671

More User Perspectives

But why i want to harming my self

@27_ie_novly35

I self-soothe at my 9-5 job with a designated Word doc in which I confide my troubles and stresses to my favourite characters from pop culture - as if I were talking to a chatbot, but there’s no AI involved, just my own brain.

@stephanybstrangely

a coin flip to decide if youre either mentally ill or gifted

@myhonestreaction135

When I'm alone, I like to act like a psychiatrist who is giving advice to myself.
As a psychiatrist, I'm very terrified of how unstable my only client is.

@MoustafaRadwan-v5y

People think your on the phone. Not me.

@kprich3790

Believe me myself is more intelligent than me, so I never regret talking to myself.

And I am more active when I am talking to myself.

@mohammedraza4846

I am doning this frome. My childhood and I don't give a Fook to what people say

@boxybear-b2y

❤

@VladSamiliv

I may had these, but only disability.

@Willchannel90

I'd be down to have a fully identical clone of myself to keep me company

@JuicyLemon1565

Great video! Really enjoyed it.

@WuraolaAsabi

Great video! Really enjoyed it.

@GuntherKirkling

Great video! Really enjoyed it.

@LabrecqueLabrecque-q7i

Great video! Really enjoyed it.

@HasinurIslam-s9x

This was super helpful, thanks!

@Messi-t8q9p

I used to talk to myself publicly

@TweekLeTwix

For real, Specifically my parents think that talking to yourself is equivalent to mental illness when its 101% not true, Its not illegal, not a problem, not even a mental illness, this will let you reflect and help you tide anything in your mind, Proof that our parents are very wrong

@angelicatiberii7

This was super helpful, thanks!

@yockfhbridgettxo

Great video!

@maxitachi3337

Amazing content as always!

@谷澤直美-o2z

❤

@FrameThink-j2v

I love to talk to myself

@ericaciren1

-stigmatize=kì thị, mặc định tiêu cực
-mental instability=sự bất ổn về tinh thần
-narrative (n) --> narration (n)=sự tường thuật
-inner speech=lời nói nội tâm
-facts and figures=skien và số liệu
-mental imagery=việc tưởng tg trong đầu
-verbalized thoughts=suy nghĩ diễn đạt bằng rời nói
-a facet of life=1 khía cạnh c/s
-sth falls into this category=cái j thuộc loại này...
-hypothesize=đưa ra giả thuýt
- outward self-talk=self-talk hướng ra bên ngoài
-internalize=nội tâm hoá (phát ra trong đầu )
-morph into=chuyển thành
-know sth for certain=biết chắc chắn về
-tackle everyday tasks=xử lí công vc hàng ngày
-collegiate (adj)=thuộc đại học
-incorporate something into something=tích hợp, kết hợp cái j với cj
-be critical of yourself=phê bình bản thân
-excessive=quá mức
-ruminate on sth=suy nghĩ miên man về
-compassionate=nhân từ

@HồngAnhVũ-t9x

Was talking to myself and this just passed by recommended 😭😭

@Cassandra-ww8bd

THE VOICES! THE VOICES!?!

@Aikori4rtz

The part about distanced self-talk really surprised me; it turns out talking to yourself in the third person reduces stress more than talking in the first person? My brain has been doing it wrong all this time!

@WaitReallyChannel

In fact, one of the types of psychotherapy is talk therapy.
Which basically means correcting and understanding the way we talk to ourselves.

For example:
• “I’m anxious right now, but I can calm down.”
• “I made a mistake, but that doesn’t make me worthless.”
• “Why did this upset me so much?”

This helps with:
• understanding emotions
• calming yourself
• making better decisions
• managing stress

This is sometimes called “inner dialogue” or “self-talk.”

So honestly, talking to yourself is not something shameful or embarrassing like some people think 😅
It’s actually a scientifically recognized psychological method. 🤍
Take care everyone.

@Someone_111-gh

thank you!

@KristenMedinaTenten

Thank you!

@rahulrao5349

Very well done, appreciate this video!

@FafduPlassess-p4h

Bruh i talk to i guess to myself while thinking im vlogging 😭

@Unique-Queen

is weird to talk to a doll since i already talk to myself that much

@ernestyusnizar5082

Thanks TED-Ed for this! I thought I'm losing my mind AHHAAHHAH But talking to myself really helps me to have self-control and such.

@KHimaya-d6m

Before clicking this video and opening yt i was doing literally doing this 😂
I have a negative impact too as i talk a lot internally when i talk it out loud my words juggle a lot and most of the time i ended up pronouncing them wrongly 🙃

@AnamikaAnimesh

Fantastic explanation, thank you!

@GouravMahato-k6g

I always talk to myself and I get best advice no one else can give me.

@nasraabdiabi5952

You all are so great bro. we didn't want any people for talk . We are satisfied with yourself it's great !!! .love yourself guys .... I'm self talking personally too and I love my self it's a wonderful feeling... We are so lucky 😌😌

@parkjimin_world

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