2023-09-19 01:48:05
Why do older people talk to themselves? This is a question that often worries us, but the answer is not as simple as it seems. Talking to yourself may be a common activity for people of all ages, but when it comes to older people, it’s natural for concerns regarding their mental health to arise.
Older people are often targeted when speaking to themselves, as neurological disorders are more common in this demographic. We often associate the act of talking to ourselves with worrying medical conditions. However, we must remember that not all cases of self-talk indicate pathology.
Why do older people talk to themselves?
In situations where talking to oneself is pathological, it is usually related to hallucinations, whether visual or auditory. This becomes evident when responses or expressions lack coherence with the surrounding reality. For example, a person laughing at conversations that are not funny may be an indication of an underlying medical condition, such as schizophrenia.
Alzheimer’s, a disease that affects many older people, can also lead to hallucinations and delusions, which might explain the act of talking to oneself in some cases.
However, not all instances of talking to oneself in older people are pathological. In many cases, talking to yourself is a way to deal with loneliness, stress or anxiety.
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Do we worry or not if an elderly person talks to themselves?
So when should we worry regarding an older person talking to themselves? There are some warning signs that we should be aware of:
Self-references in the third person: If the older person frequently refers to themselves in the third person in a negative way, this might be a cause for concern. Lack of adjustment with reality: If the person’s conversation lacks logic or refers to events that never occurred, this might indicate an underlying disease, such as Alzheimer’s. Lack of coherence in conversation: Lack of common sense in conversation, illogical or disconnected responses from reality can be signs of disorientation, delusions or hallucinations. Rapid succession of ideas without clear development: If the person moves from one idea to another without a logical progression and at an unusually fast pace, this might also be a cause for concern.
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