Do you have the habit of talking to yourself and wondering if it is normal? If so, you may take a deep breath, as self-talk is a good way to promote your mental health. Engaging in self-talk is a natural part of your daily routine. They affect your self-perception and your reaction to life's experiences. This week in our ‘Mental Health Matters’ series, we spoke to our expert Dr Gorav Gupta, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist and Director, Tulasi Healthcare, New Delhi, who explained the benefits of engaging in self-talk.
What Is Self-Talk?
“Self-talk is used to describe the internal conversation or ideas people have with themselves. It deals with the continuous flow of ideas, either conscious or unconscious, that people employ to analyse and make meaning of the events, feelings, and behaviours that they encounter”, said Dr Gupta.
The emotions, actions, and general well-being of an individual can be greatly impacted by this internal monologue, which can be either positive or negative.
According to a 2021 study, self-talk involves employing cue words in an internal or spoken dialogue with oneself. It consists of two key aspects: the verbalisation's structure is crucial, and the communicator is also the recipient.
Given its positive impact on attention and emotional control, self-talk is commonly applied for improving performance in sports, and academic endeavours, and managing anxiety or depression in clinical settings.
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Benefits Of Self-Talk
There are many reasons why talking to yourself positively and constructively can be beneficial. Dr Gupta listed the benefits of self-talk as follows:
Self-Reflection
You can reflect on yourself when you talk to yourself. You can get clarity about your experiences and sentiments by using it as a chance to process your ideas and feelings.
Solving Problems
“Expressing your ideas clearly can help you solve problems. Talking through an issue or dilemma might help you think through it more clearly and generate possible answers”, added Dr Gupta.
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Emotional Control
Speaking about your feelings aloud can be a healing process. Emotional regulation and the discharge of repressed sentiments can both be facilitated by verbalising feelings.
According to a 2020 Iranian study, self-talk had an impact on people's anxiety management strategies during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Increased Concentration and Focus
Talking out loud what's on your mind can help you stay on track and focused. It can help you stay focused and reinforce important information.
According to a 2019 study, students who performed a self-affirming remark before giving a speech or presentation reported feeling less nervous about their performance than those who did not.
Message From The Expert
Dr Gupta highlighted, “It's necessary to remember that the substance of self-talk determines how successful it is. In general, constructive and positive self-talk is more advantageous than critical or negative self-talk. It takes practice to form a positive self-talk habit, but once you do, it may greatly improve your mental well-being and general perspective on life.”
“Consider getting help from a mental health professional if you have trouble maintaining positive self-talk or if you're dealing with persistently negative ideas”, he added.
[Disclaimer: This article contains information provided by an expert and is for informational purposes only. Hence, we advise you to consult your expert if you are dealing with any mental health issues for proper diagnosis and treatment.]