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Am I just being hyper aware of my inner voice?

avocado

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Talking used to be very easy for me- I would be super engaged in conversations and speech would naturally flow out of me. However, recently, I've noticed that my "inner voice" will respond to people's comments when I'm talking to them. Like my friend would say something and then my inner voice would respond appropriately, but I don't respond immediately because he's still talking. And I'll notice this and it will give me anxiety? Idk why it does, I think cause I never experienced this friction before so then I just started ruminating on it and convinced myself that I was starting to go crazy.

Sometimes this goes away but when it does I start thinking "oh I feel normal now" and then it comes back and just gives me more anxiety. Maybe this gives me anxiety because I'll be afraid I'll blurt out what I'm thinking and it'll mean I'm crazy or something? Not sure. I just feel so hyper aware of my inner voice and how it translates to speech and it makes me think I'm developing some sort of mental illness!
 

MATD

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Sounds like yet another symptom popping up. Being hyper aware is a symptom itself. Paying attention to it just causes it to embed more firmly. “It’s Only Anxiety” by Carl James on Amazon. Your situation is explained in his book.
 

avocado

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Thanks! I'll check it out! I can't stop ruminating about it. I keep trying to convince myself that this means I'm going to forget how to speak or conversate properly, which freaks me out because I'm terrified of developing schizophrenia.
 

MATD

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If it makes you feel any better, I once thought the same thing, but it didn’t happen.
 

Doug97

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recently, I've noticed that my "inner voice" will respond to people's comments when I'm talking to them. Like my friend would say something and then my inner voice would respond appropriately,
That's hilarious, because my inner voice rarely replies with something appropriate! :joyful:
 

avocado

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That's hilarious, because my inner voice rarely replies with something appropriate! :joyful:
Haha yeahhhhh I realized it was just my inner voice. I told my gf about this and she just gave me a -_- face and said "now you know how it feels to be socially anxious"
 

Jonathan123

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Do we ever really listen to what others say? While they speak we are thinking of what to say next. Listening is an art. To just listen and take in what they say without judgement or criticism is difficult, but is the foundation of good counselling. It takes time and training to be able to do that. Everyone has their own story, and everyone has the right to talk about it, should they so wish. 'Talking it over' with someone you trust can be a great help in anxiety, provided the person listens without judgement.
A tired anxious mind will throw up all sorts of problems including being able to converse.
 
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