Autism and talking to yourself

I talk out loud to myself constantly. Almost as if there's somebody else in the room that I'm explaining something to, or sharing a personal narrative with. I only do it when I'm entirely alone- which for me is the majority of my day. (I live and work alone.) I also have a distinct tendency to analyze and problem-solve by talking through something out loud. (Whether alone or in discussion with another person.) I think it's because my sensory processing is so intense and expansive, that translating such a massive amount of information into the restrictive confines of language helps me to mentally "pare down" and organize so much stimuli into a cohesive conclusion. It's like thinking via verbalization. I also sometimes act out imagined scenarios when I'm alone, like joking around with my friends at a party, for example. I only recently have begun to understand this as a rehearsal process for future social interactions, to lessen the exhaustion from extended masking sessions by already having my lines down pat. Which thus also helps me to have a more genuine, enjoyable time at said party. I hope some of this helps- I've said all of it out loud during the writing process, and it sounded pretty solid to ME, haha!

I talk out loud to myself constantly. Almost as if there's somebody else in the room that I'm explaining something to, or sharing a personal narrative with. I only do it when I'm entirely alone- which for me is the majority of my day. (I live and work alone.) I also have a distinct tendency to analyze and problem-solve by talking through something out loud. (Whether alone or in discussion with another person.) I think it's because my sensory processing is so intense and expansive, that translating such a massive amount of information into the restrictive confines of language helps me to mentally "pare down" and organize so much stimuli into a cohesive conclusion. It's like thinking via verbalization. I also sometimes act out imagined scenarios when I'm alone, like joking around with my friends at a party, for example. I only recently have begun to understand this as a rehearsal process for future social interactions, to lessen the exhaustion from extended masking sessions by already having my lines down pat. Which thus also helps me to have a more genuine, enjoyable time at said party. I hope some of this helps- I've said all of it out loud during the writing process, and it sounded pretty solid to ME, haha!

100% with you with your description on this! Snapsnapsnap! :)

Sounds like another reason they often associated autism with schizophrenia (which they don't anymore)....but I also talk to myself a lot but I think that may yes, be part of the autism but it's also a part of loneliness.