We all do it. Don’t be ashamed. Don’t think you’re not normal. Sometimes we do it in private; sometimes we do it in public. There are times when we don’t get caught, but there are times when we do get caught. Talking to yourself is something we all do!

But there are 4 different types of talking to yourself.

Type one:

Everyone is guilty of this. You’re going back and forth with yourself inside your head, thinking about what you need to do today or what you’re going to eat and sometimes in order to make those decisions you have to talk to yourself. I’m doing it while writing this article. It’s a normal everyday thing. Everyone talks to himself or herself a bit here and there throughout the day. This is what we call “talking out loud”. Someone might ask if you were talking to them but as soon as you say, “Oh, no. I’m just talking out loud”, they won’t think anything of it.

Type two:

When you talk to yourself completely out loud, you might even answer your own questions or laugh at your own jokes -- if you don’t laugh at them already. But, you’re in the private of your own space so who cares! Trying to figure out what to wear – give yourself a compliment. Who cares! When you have to talk yourself through that awkward encounter you had with your ex, you’ll feel better if you pace around your room and tell yourself you were awkward at… not at all. Who cares! Have full conversations with yourself

Type three:

When you talk to yourself while you walk in public. You’re walking to class and you’re going over the note cards you just studied in your head, but you so happen to be saying them out loud, but quietly I might add. You’re not screaming at the top of your lungs the definition of distribution. But as you walk around campus, you’ll probably see this a lot. Mouths moving but you might not hear them. It’s okay that’s normal, I do it all the time!

Type four:

When you talk to yourself in public, but it looks like you’re talking to your imaginary best friend. Usually if you talk to yourself in public, it’s quietly. You might be a little louder when you’re “talking out loud”, but if you’re walking around campus having a full conversation with yourself and it looks like you’re talking to your imaginary friend Billy, people might give you a weird look. Unlike the others types of talking to yourself, this one might not be that normal. But it’s okay; everyone has their own way of doing things.

No matter your type, everyone talks to themselves! It’s normal.