I think that having conversations with that voice in my head is a "second person" situation and I find it
completely normal. You could call that voice "conscience" or "guardian spirit" or whatever suits. You could always ask your therp where they came up with their spectrum analogy, that's always interesting.
Sometimes we have to take some time researching things, using different terms and plodding away until
it all comes together. Happy hunting!

I do this often talking in third person. Often saying "oh u idiot what did u do that for"

I think its common thing and agree it probably is along a spectrum. Its when it becomes bothering to u that its probably not ok. Like if u start believing its someone else in ur head. I suffer with this occassionaly and get very ill with it.

Yes, I do this and it was/is taken very seriously in my own therapy network. Thinking in the 2nd and 3rd person is one of my personal psycho flags. My therapy program moves to Red Alert when I start thinking in 3rd person plural. The evil Them. . . I have grown some pretty gnarly paranoid delusions in the mythical battle of Us against Them. And then we get to the hidden expectations of the Royal We. "We" are going to do ^it^ my/your way, beginning with this decree. The Royal Assumpter has spoken. Read my mind.

Don't know about the "Normal" of it. In my own strictly personal case, it is serious symptom of psychosis and my perspective really does shift when I think in first person, singular.

Gentle support while you sort what it is for you.

arfie, this is what I suspected. When I think in third person, it is daily, but has been that way as long as I rememeber. maybe if is normal for those without the psychotic features? But also, i think it means that in terms of the psyhcosis spectrum I am always in the middle between "normal" and psyctotic, in what I call the borderlands. ....it is distrubring but also makes sense to find out i am there most of the time. It scares me becuase how easy could it be to slip into full psychosis then? And because of the ptsd disassocation how do I really know what is what, really?

tommymot, my voice that is my own in NOT first person only says bad things to me. So, for me. it is demon voice vs. guardian voice.

lovlilbeany, I do know it isnt someone else in my head, but i do feel seperate from it in a way. It bothers me in the sense that it makes me feel depressed.

Thank all of you for posting, also. I think it is along a spectrum, normal to have it some, but borderline psychosis to have it as much and as evil as it is. then it makes me wonder if i primarily live in borderlands, am i really am schizoaffective BP type. some dr's have thought that instead of psychyotic BP 1

The Normal People were among my psychotic Thems. Analyzing human norms is not a career choice which is available to me. "Normal for me" is as far as I can go down that road. Strictly personal. No disrespect intended to social analysts, etc. In the normal-for-me, going down that road is like a recovering alcoholic going to a bar. One analysis is too many, a 1,000 are not enough. I can over analyze the path of a water droplet down a beer bottle. Literally.

In the normal-for-me, thinking in third person is a psycho nag flag. Ply therapy tools here. K.I.S.S. K.I.S.S. Keep ^it^ Simple, Sweetie. Mind your pronouns.

Your question reminded me of this story...

A Grandfather from the Cherokee Nation was talking with his grandson.

"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.

"It is a terrible fight between two wolves."

The young grandson listened intently.

"One wolf is evil, unhappy, and ugly: He is anger, envy, war, greed, selfishness, sorrow, regret, guilt, resentment, inferiority/superiority, false pride, coarseness, and arrogance. He spreads lies, deceit, fear, hatred, blame, scarcity, poverty, and divisiveness."

"The other wolf is beautiful and good: He is friendly, joyful, loving, worthy, serene, humble, kind, benevolent, just, fair, empathetic, generous, honest, compassionate, grateful, brave, and inspiring resting wholeheartedly in deep vision beyond ordinary wisdom."

The grandson paused in deep reflection of what his grandfather had just said. Then he exclaimed; "Oyee! (in recognition).

Grandfather continued; "This same fight is going on inside you, and inside all human beings as well."

The grandson paused in deep reflection and recognition of what his grandfather had just said. Then he finally cried out deeply; "Oyee! Grandfather, which wolf will win this horrific war?"

The elder Cherokee replied, "The wolf that you feed. That wolf will surely win!"

***

I like to feed my good and beautiful wolf (which in many Native American traditions represent the spirit of the teacher and guide, btw). I'm just not very good at keeping to a regular feeding schedule, so the evil wolf swoops in and gobbles down all my good intentions (and my doubt/fear/anger/sadness) and grows stronger. I think you just have to do the best you can to leave only scraps for the evil wolf and feed your good and beautiful wolf steak so it can guide you on the right paths. And read the War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
by Steven Pressfield. It helps a lot with the ways we talk to ourselves and what motivates us to address ourselves in certain ways - especially when we have issues with negativity.

I have my mother's voice telling criticising me all of the time. That's why I'm now in EMDR therapy. Seems to be working.

You need to abide by the DS code of conduct as these sorts of posts flaming other members like a troll, even in your own posts are not acceptable and I do not accept it, asking a community leader at least to provide the link to the COC. So it's not myself and the lovely, supportive and encouraging bookmaven that needs to hold our tongues and not mention metaphors like the bad wolf in commenting and helping one another and others on this site... but you that needs to consider your position and standing in the community of which you joined and agreed to the rules.
Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Unless of course you learn how to mean it when you apologize.

closed for review