Why do we talk to ourselves?
Talking to yourself is normal in most cases. However, if you talk to yourself too much, it could be a sign of mental illness.
Self-talk can increase when you feel lonely and socially isolated.
Self-talk can come from the following reasons:
Common in young children: Inner dialogue is common in children, as they grow up, they tend to talk to themselves more. According to many studies, people who are creative, imaginative and emotional tend to talk to themselves more.
Before an important event: Before important events such as exams, presentations, graduation ceremonies..., people often tend to say positive words to themselves to reduce anxiety and increase motivation to perform well.
Loneliness or isolation: People who feel lonely or socially isolated tend to talk to themselves more. According to the Sage Journal, people with few social connections often lack a sense of belonging in their lives. So they tend to talk to themselves more to fill that void.
Benefits of self talk
- Children who regularly talk to themselves and affirm themselves positively will have fewer negative beliefs and get higher grades.
- Self-talk can be beneficial for athletes and sports people. Positive self-talk can help people be more open to learning new skills and perform better in tasks that require precision, strength and energy. Self-motivation is great for endurance sports such as cycling, swimming or running.
- Talking to yourself positively can boost self-esteem, reducing anxiety in everyday life. Positive self-talk can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, personality disorders or eating disorders.
