Talking out loud can be a way to let off steam, too. The classic example, Brinthaupt says, is audibly swearing, which can act like a release that helps you feel better.

Many people talk to themselves in everyday situations. There’s a stigma around talking to yourself out loud in public, but doing it can help you understand the world around you.

Why people talk out loud to themselves. Thirty years ago, when Thomas Brinthaupt became a new parent—and was in the thick of long, sleep-deprived days and nights—he started coping by talking ...