Is it normal to not think while talking?

So I have this problem where if I'm having a conversation with someone and they say something, instead of taking what they said analyzing it in my brain and giving a response, my mind goes totally blank. So instead of contributing to the conversation I often end up killing it because I can't think of anything to say.

It's always like this, whenever I'm presented with information it will take about 3 seconds before I have any thoughts whatsoever and I'll just have to take in everything at face-value if I want any chance at having a normal talk with someone. This obviously has made me socially awkward and the only kind of people I get along with are those who "let it slide" when you say something dumb or completely unrelated.

I think I'm a open-minded person and I do a lot of thinking on my own but when It comes to other people, like my brother who can't stand me now, I just fail. And this isn't just with talking, If I'm reading a book (rarely) I'll zone out and end up re-reading what I zoned-out on. Or if I'm playing a game that requires thinking I'm not able to think and play simultaneously.

Is this normal and I'm just bad at talking? Or is everyone else able to think more clearly than me? Let me know.

Voting Results
63% Normal
Based on 72 votes (45 yes)
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Comments ( 9 )
  • Jen118584

    You are not alone because you just described me perfectly. I prefer written correspondence for everything because my thoughts in my head are a jumbled mess and there are often awkward silences in my conversations. Sometimes I'm having a conversation with someone and I'm literally not paying attention at all. Like, I forget they're even talking. And then I snap back and I'm like, Oh shit, could they tell I wasn't listening? And then I can't even remember what I was thinking about instead.

    And when I'm reading, sometimes I have to read the same simple sentence over and over again. I read it and it just doesn't register in my brain. I'm an intelligent, clever person but it makes me feel seriously slow.

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  • Crudhouse

    This happens when you're stressed or when your mind isn't being exercised regularly (at least in my experience). If it's the latter, you need to exercise it to the max every day for at least an hour and concentrate on being aware of your surroundings and all the data that's coming in from your senses. In a couple of weeks you'll be more aware than everyone else...trust me

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  • AwkwardTurtle

    I sorta have this exact problemo!
    What with the speech and family insults, or just getting cut off all the time at the dinner table so you just shut up and let everyone else do the talking. This is totally normal, at least to me. BUT! The only thing you need to worry about is how to overcome it. I personally try to catch myself when I mumble and be louder when with others, or just sing reeeally loudly to a song you know while by yourself. And don't try to judge your singing, its better to just not give a damn how you sound, just be in the moment and your voice will come naturally!

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  • its the same with me. i think its because im always thinking of something, im always in my little world, then somebody says something & i have no idea wtf to respond. i always need like 2-3 seconds to think

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  • ParanoidAndroid

    The problem is, you dont have enough focus on what people are saying to you, You find them; dull, Boring and even uninteresting.
    try to follow the convo, predict what they are gunna say next, if they dont say what you thought.. maybe say what you predicted and put in a view.
    Or
    Stop playing COD cause talk to me whilst i'm playing that: you dont exist.

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  • Hayat

    where your mind is going to*, not what, sorry.

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  • Hayat

    hi! I'm new here, and I'm not american so I don't really know if my lack of vocabulary can make my comments seem stupid or too simple, haha.

    So here I go:
    Maybe is not that you are shy or something like that, you are just unable to pay attention enough to process the information as the same time they are giving it to you because perhaps you are focus on other stuff.

    When someone introduce me to a person and say the name of the person I NEVER remind it two seconds later.NEVER! haha, if I want to remind it I got to think before, that I got to keep awaken in order to stick the name in my mind.

    That happens cos usually I'm looking at the face of the person and examinating his features almost unconsciounsly but I didn't realize it til my friends said to me things like "wtf? how come u can talk about him/her that way if u have just seen him/her once?" cos I usually make comments like "oh yeh, that girl with the angular chin and the slender hands!" even if I've seen her for a second.

    So try to find out what your mind is going to when the person is talking to you.If you are just in "stand by" u need to make your brain able to put the attention on it, like training as dave said.

    I think it was a little confused lol. I'll improve.I am good giving advice in spanish!

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  • dave87

    Sometimes I find myself already knowing what someone is going to say just before they have sad it and I have already thought about what I want to say. I tend to interrupt them when they are just about to finish but that%%u2019s not all the time, sometimes I will get very interested in a deep subject and will go into some creative thinking in my mind and use the gaps between conversation to expand my thoughts and to listen and take in what others are saying. There is nothing wrong with a little silence in a conversation(infact its a good Opportunity to think).

    If you are not doing any of this stuff then you must be able to train your brain to do so, focus on what others are saying, people like a good listener. You must be able to improve on what you already have.

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  • ihopeyoudie

    same for me. we all have add or bi polar or some shit these days. but im sure ur probably creative or some shit to make up for your attention you lack in people. i zone out so bad ill be playing a game and 10 minutes later i realize i died 15 times, come back and kill everyone .

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