Coming across a person who seems to be talking to themselves on the street can be disconcerting. This type of scene makes us think, at first glance, that we are facing someone mentally unbalanced. But if you stop to think about it, in fact, it’s quite likely that you’ll find yourself having kept a conversation out loud with yourself on more than one occasion.

It usually happens to us when we are trying to solve a mathematical problem, when we do not understand something, when we want to memorize a concept or when something frustrates us or is a challenge. So, Is it normal to talk to yourself from time to time? Or is there some worrying component to the soliloquy? Today we tell you what psychology says about all this.

The art of the soliloquy

It is common to see it in the theater. The character goes on stage and begins to talk to himself, as if the audience did not exist, exposing sensitive details of his story that we could not know otherwise. But when it happens in real life and the internal monologue that we all have begins to be played out loud, in what we know as a soliloquy, Some of us get alarm bells.

Perhaps the bad reputation of this task, that of speaking to oneself out loud, has its origins in the world of cinema. It immediately comes to mind the image of the unbalanced character that he is about to do something crazy, and that he talks to himself out loud. A good example of them is the well-known Golum, from the famous saga the lord of the ringswhose disturbing soliloquy we usually imitate when we refer to him.

But the truth is that this talking out loud is not only not dangerous. It is common and very healthyas the experts explain.

The neuropsychologist Alexander Luria assures that language does not only have a social function. It also participates in processes such as the organization of thought or the planning of actions. Hence, for example, when you have to remember how to get to a place, you begin to recite out loud the directions that others have given you. Or, to solve a mathematical problem, you start reviewing numbers and operations out loud.

So if it is not only not harmful, but natural, Why do we talk out loud to ourselves?

Why do we talk to each other out loud?

The psychotherapist Anne Wilson Schaef assures that the soliloquy is a natural tool that our brain has at its disposal to calm us down and improve our cognitive functions. In fact, she herself recommends it to her patients as a way to manage emotions.

By speaking out loud, we get emotional relief. That’s why when we get angry we tend to sputter, instinctively. It is a great tool, says the expert, to release anger.

“We all need to talk to someone interesting, intelligent, who knows us well and is on our side,” says the expert. “and that person is ourselves.” Thus, explains Shaef, the soliloquy can become a valuable cognitive tool.

Gary Lupyan, a professor at the University of Wisconsin, claimed that “Talking out loud to yourself is not irrational.” Far from that image of madness that assails us when dealing with the topic of the soliloquy, the expert assured the BBC that this internal dialogue can be effective in recovering memory, improving concentration or gaining self-confidence.

In this sense, studies indicate that talking in second or third person In this soliloquy it can be more beneficial than doing it in the first person, especially when it comes to calming emotions or promoting self-esteem.

However, when this speaking out loud becomes negative, with a strong critical and self-destructive component, can become dangerous. Experts say that, in many cases, this type of soliloquy is associated with a mental illness, such as schizophrenia.

Benefits of talking alone

Now that you know that there is nothing dangerous about talking to yourself, it’s time for you to know everything what you can gain with this habit. If you don’t do it naturally, it’s time to start doing it, because talking to yourself can help you:

• Improve memory. Repeating information out loud activates areas of our brain that promote its retention, facilitating memory. Therefore, if you are studying, repeating the lesson out loud helps you memorize it faster.
• Manage emotions. Talking to yourself out loud is a great way to process those emotions that arise with greater intensity. By verbally reviewing what you feel, it will be easier for you to find solutions to your problems.
• Increase concentration. Saying what you think out loud can help you focus better on what you are doing. The soliloquy technique, in this case, can help you avoid distractions and improve your efficiency.
• Motivate you. It has been proven that the act of talking to yourself is a very effective self-motivation tool. Look in the mirror and remind yourself that “You can do it” or “This is not going to stop you.” Saying these things to yourself will strengthen your self-confidence.
• Focus on your goals. Saying out loud what you want, talking about yourself, your plans, goals and objectives, will help you organize yourself better and commit.