I have always had an internal voice like a narrator in my head of my own voice

OK, thanks. I do think there is a difference between hearing voices/auditory hallucinations and having an inner monologue (I had to google it! Apparently many people do have an interior monologue, but only between a quarter and a half of people depending on source. And there are plenty of examples in literature, which would be why I thought it was normal.)

With an inner monologue, one is aware that it is oneself, it is like talking to yourself but not out loud, where with the hallucinations one thinks it is coming from somewhere else, outside oneself. It sounds to me more like the OP (original poster) has an inner monologue which never shuts up rather than it being auditory hallucinations, but she might clarify that.

For myself it's like when I am reading, it seems like my inner voice is reading aloud to me in my head, though if I skim read I skip that part and sometimes it is a mix of both ways of reading. So when I compose a reply I think the words to myself then type them. Then when I am just thinking, it is usually in words like that, but not always. It's not always a narrator as such, like I am not thinking, 'now I am typing, now I am pausing to think' it's a bit weird trying to define it! I shall stop trying as I may be going off topic a bit too...

Do you not have an inner monologue then Iain?

I’ve always had this, I thought everyone else did as well. It’s one of the reasons I’m never lonely when alone.

AuTriker said:

I am surprised you think it is bipolar?

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/your-stories/hearing-voices-with-bipolar-disorder/

The worst part of this is not knowing how long it will go on for, and knowing I can’t escape it.

The fact that Rainbowgirl cannot shut it off may suggest this is a bipolar trait or possibly schizophrenia (this also has a high association with autism).

The auditory hallucinations are called psychosis and it depends on the interaction with them that can point to bipolar. Hopefully the link above may provide some additional guidance, but a professional with a specialism in the field is worth consulting with once it begins to cause problems.

There is a rather heavy going article into the subject here that explains it in more depth:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/.../

Yes I basically have the same thing. I wonder does it contribute to my chronic fatigue, that I'm structuring nuanced internal sentences more or less continually. When I sporadically talk aloud when in private/alone it's often a way to let that inner voice out. And I notice that I'll often say something like 'Now, what were we supposed to be doing', or 'where were we?' - as though talking to another person... who's me. 

Huh? You mean it's not normal? I kind of always assumed everyone had it actually, but it seems not. And some autistic people don't think in words at all (Temple Grandin for example) but I am surprised you think it is bipolar? 

To sleep I use the internal voice to tell myself a story. I wouldn't want mine to stop! It's just me after all.

Rainbowgirl said:

Through out my life because of my autism I have always had an internal voice like a narrator in my head of my own voice. 

This actually sounds more like a bipolar trait - also part of the neurodiverse spectrum.

This is something you should speak to a therapist for advice on since it may be something that will respond best to medication, but that would be for the specialists to decide.

If you get referred to a psychiatrist then don't worry - it is only because only psychiatrists can normally prescribe mediacation for this.

everyone does doesnt they?
if we didnt we wouldnt be sentient. but i bet even animals have this, a dog probably has its own voice in its head, thinking. just a normal sentience thing.