Self
Experts weigh in on the different ways of thinking.
Take a second to sit in silence.
Is there chatter inside your head?
Or is it relatively quiet in there?
Theres a conversationmaking its way around TikTokabout thisinner voice or lack thereof.
The folks with the internal monologue simply cannot imagine not having one and vice versa.
As someone with an inner monologue, I fall into the first group.
In fact, I dont know what Id do without her.
This is why TikTok is asking the question: Does everyone have an internal monologue?
Heres what the experts say.
What Is An Internal Monologue?
Having an inner monologue is like having a discussion with yourself inside your head, she tells Bustle.
It includes asking yourself questions, internally reacting to what people say, and reflecting on experiences.
It also often coincides withvivid mental imagery, which can play out kind of like a movie.
The inner voice is not justself-talk, saysDr.
Felicia Pressley, LPC, a counselor and teen wellness expert.
If you dont have an inner monologue, theres no chatter in your head.
It might show up sometimes, but for the most part, your mind is quiet.
It can feel like you arent thinking about anything, Ogle explains.
Instead of experiencing a voiceover or narration, you take in information but dont really think about it.
A person without an inner monologue isnt constantly imagining their next move in their head, Pressley adds.
Instead, they just kind of do it.
If you arent sure, pay attention to your thoughts.
Does Everyone Have An Internal Monologue?
As someone who has an inner monologue, Im completely amazed that some folks have quiet brains.
But the opposite experience is equally mind-blowing to those who dont have internal chatter.
But as it turns out, most people dont have an inner monologue.
If youre super stressed, for instance, itll ramp up.
Neither way of thinking is wrong or bad, BTW.
Pressley says its OK if you have an inner monologue, and its OK if you dont.
Its just the way some people process information and language, she says.
This can help you gain insight into yourself.
Her tip?Try meditatingas a way to get in touch with that tiny voice inside your head.
Studies referenced:
Hinwar, RP.
(2021).Anauralia: The Silent Mind and Its Association With Aphantasia.Frontiers in Psychology.
Keogh, R. (2021).Aphantasia: The science of visual imagery extremes.Handbook of Clinical Neurology.
