The Generation X Files

Do you have an inner monologue?

I definitely have a “voice” inside my head.

I don’t mean like the one that led to Norman Bates giving us “that” shower scene in Psycho! It’s hard to describe so I’ll let Google help us out with an AI summary if that’s okay with you.

“In psychology, an inner monologue (or inner speech/voice) is the silent, verbal stream of thoughts, self-talk, and internal dialogue we “hear” in our minds, acting as silent processing for problem-solving, planning, or self-reflection”

Google AI Overview

A couple of months ago, I was lurking on Reddit and a topic caught my eye. It was discussing the “inner voice” and mine told me to read it.

The post that had caught my interest said that up to 70% of people don’t have an interior monologue. I couldn’t believe that!

My mind was blown. I’d just assumed that everyone had one. I’d never really thought about it. Was it really true that only 30% are like me?

It was at this point that my inner voice entered the chat. “Enquiring minds want to know” isn’t just a catchy slogan for a supermarket tabloid. It’s how my brain functions. It needs to know and understand everything.

So, I did a little research online and found that there is no definitive figure. Research suggests that between 30% and 50% of people regularly experience an internal monologue.

But what does that mean? That up to 50% of people don’t? Ever?

I can’t imagine not hearing mine! She’s female. I know that because I hear her when she helps me practice conversations in my mind. It’s my voice but a little different. Like when you hear your voice in a recording and can’t quite believe that’s what you sound like.

She’s always the one who says “yes” when I ask myself, will I have this piece of cake? But it’s also her who urges me to exercise and get healthy.

It’s when I let her loose that I’m capable of writing the words I share with you here. Maybe yours is speaking those words to you from the screen right now? I can’t imagine a quiet brain.

When I was a kid I loved to read British comics like the Dandy and Beano. One of my favourite comic strips was called The Numskulls.

It focused on a group living inside the head of a young boy. These Numskulls treated the human body as a machine to be maintained.

There were different departments, equipped with their own staff; the Brain Dept., Eye Dept., Ear Dept., Nose Dept. and Mouth Dept.,

The staff had over-sized heads on stick-figure bodies. Characters’ names corresponded to their departments; Luggy worked in the Ear Dept., Blinky controlled the eyes…you get the idea!

It’s similar to Pixar’s Inside Out film. Five core emotions are personified inside the mind of a young girl. These emotions include Fear, Anger, Joy, Disgust, and Sadness. They work behind the scenes in her inner mind.

They’re very different styles but, both portray a team of individuals working together to keep us working. Physically and emotionally.

I picture my inner voice as a combination of both. Sat behind a large desk with an array of control panels with blinking buttons. Surrounded by screens full of data and images. She’s the one that keeps my machine running.

My brain doesn’t have a standby mode. It’s always on and it’s messy in there so I need the help!

So, what about you? Do you have an internal monologue? And if you don’t, what’s that like?

Me and my numskulls really want to know.

Citizen Jane x