The power of talking out loud to yourself

There’s this stereotype that only “crazy” people talk to themselves. I’ve always found this ironic as one of the most effective interventions I utilize with my client’s is practicing self-talk.

There’s a number of reasons speaking to yourself out loud can bring you positive results in addressing anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, trauma and more!

For one, our brains do a really good job of taking thoughts and having them spin around our head like clothing in a dryer. One thought leads to another which leads into another and ultimately chaos can ensue.

When we speak our thoughts out loud, it helps us organize the thought we’re trying to focus on and it can prevent it from getting lost in the shuffle.

Similarly, our brains do a real good job of thinking irrational thoughts. Thoughts that if spoken out loud, might sound ridiculous to us. When we say what we’re thinking out loud, it makes the thought real and tangible; thereby making it easier for us to identify, assess and potentially challenge uncomfortable emotions.

Lastly, research shows that our brains do a better job of internalizing ideas that are vocalized instead of just thought. This can be particularly helpful when working through self-esteem building skills like positive affirmations.

If anxiety, depression, stress management or trauma are issues you’d like to work through, don’t hesitate to reach out to Philadelphia therapist Noam Dinovitz of Dinovitz Counseling LLC at 484-278-1230 or dinovitzcounseling@gmail.com