Rambling: How Can I Stop?

[MmeHibou]

I ramble terribly. I can hear myself doing it, but I can't stop. The problem with it is, at the best I come off as flaky, inconsiderate, or eccentric. Words come out of my mouth before I even think about them. This often results in me revealing too much about myself. I call it TMI Syndrome. Once, in an interview for a childcare position, I was talking about my old phone and mentioned that I dropped it in a cup of water. I did not hear from them again.

I had an audition last night. I went in, and instead of being friendly but business-like, I talked to the people greeting the auditioners about god-knows-what, talked to the random people waiting to go on about what it was like, and caught myself almost telling a girl that her nose was cool. HER NOSE? WHAT? WHY would I ever be possessed to say something like that? Jesus.

The list goes on and on.

For the record, I am taking Vyvanse and Prozac. They have helped with a lot of symptoms, but not so much this one.

Basically, I want to seem more concise, put-together, and professional. People always describe me as fun, unique, personable, etc... but I'm trying to get hired. I don't want people to think of me as that "kooky artsy girl". I have been preparing myself better for interviews, but I'm afraid of botching it up anyway.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Icecream]

Chew gum, it's too bad my brain doesn't do that for me.

[Lostsoul092]

I ramble as well and am always worried it will cause me a problem. For interviews I role play. Have someone ask me questions that the interviewer would ask me so I feel ready to go . I also research the industry news. What is the latest thing? Are there new competitors? No matter the industry there is always something new. I would turn to that info and go on and on. That way if I started rambling I would come off as knowing the latest information and I would look like the perfect candidate. Hope this helps...

[rogerdodger91]

I used to ramble alot, but now its more of a im withdrawn into my own world type thing as i became more socially anxious about peoples opinions of me. When i have to say things, i used to talk and mumble because its really hard to keep up with the pace my mind thinks at. After a few acting classes and music classes ive found ways to control some aspects of my speech and tempo. I found that most of my life i would think alot faster then i could speak so my articulation of words lacked in clarity. I found that to speak correctly, i have to drag the words out in my mind. Kind of like how you sound out a word you arent familiar when you are reading. Though some days its worse for me and i cant control my hyperactivity and impulsiveness. I end up arguing alot with people, because then i can use that as a form of stimulation.

[Bluerose]

This is going to sound weird but I found sucking on a button helped. It also stopped me from biting my nails.

[βĩο₱Ħعℓĩᶏ]

I have a bad, bad problem with rambling.

My deal is I have to give myself physical commands. Its as if I cant stop the physical action without the interference of another physical action. Depending on the occasion there is the firm set down and push away arm gesture, the look up and down up and down as many times as necessary until my mouth does't feel like running, and the Dr. Evil zip it... And the always effective "snap" or "clap" or distract me... Like looking off in the distance and rubbing something with my fingers.

[fracturedstory]

I wish I knew how to ramble. I'd be less quiet.

[DarkShadow]

Originally Posted by rogerdodger91

I used to ramble alot, but now its more of a im withdrawn into my own world type thing as i became more socially anxious about peoples opinions of me. When i have to say things, i used to talk and mumble because its really hard to keep up with the pace my mind thinks at. After a few acting classes and music classes ive found ways to control some aspects of my speech and tempo. I found that most of my life i would think alot faster then i could speak so my articulation of words lacked in clarity. I found that to speak correctly, i have to drag the words out in my mind. Kind of like how you sound out a word you arent familiar when you are reading. Though some days its worse for me and i cant control my hyperactivity and impulsiveness. I end up arguing alot with people, because then i can use that as a form of stimulation.

Man, I can definitely relate to the bolden. I do the same thing when speaking in public.

As for rambling. I either ramble constantly, or withdraw and not talk at all. For me it seems to be either/or. I either won't talk, or won't shut up. When I do ramble, I usually say things before I realize what I am saying. THEN, I have to figure out a way to control damage.

Anyway, I can relate. I lost a job that I interviewed for last week, and should have nailed. I met all the qualifications, and killed the knowledge aspect of the interview. However, I rambled. I knew I was rambling. I saw their faces, and knew I had killed my chances.

[paulabear]

Does medication help at all with this, for anyone? I hate this about myself. I hate that certain look I get from people when I go on too long or feel I have to expand on everything I'm saying. I went through uni not speaking to people because I'd basically shut down for fear of making an idiot of myself; but if I ever did open my mouth i couldn't make myself shut up! ...and made an idiot of myself. *sigh*...

[WhoaaaaaI'mADD]

I guess the question is, which do you prefer: rambling or social anxiety? I can't really be sure what my answer to that is because I have social anxiety.

I have a friend who rambles constantly but is not diagnosed with ADHD. I actually find it very annoying to be honest. That doesn't mean it's annoying in everyone - I think your rambling is a bit different than his. Yours sounds interesting, like you just want so much info at once. His is like a nagging that just drives me up the wall, like he has something to tell me and he won't rest until he gets my attention to tell me.

So i'm not sure. I walk around all the time unsure of what to say. Would rambling make this go away? Probably. I would much prefer to ramble.

I think you might try a different med? I know that they all have different effects on different people. I've read about a ton of "ramblers" who slow down with a certain med. And at the same time, that same med helps people like me actually say something.

Good luck!

[fracturedstory]

Actually I do ramble. But it's a structured ramble. I think.

If I have to choose acting like a child or social anxiety I choose child. That's what happens to me around people. I start acting like a six year old.

[zannie]

Rambling and the consequent self reflecton (self deprication) afterwards makes me crazy!!

I often wish i wouldn't talk rather than ramble, about god knows what, especially when I reveal to much about my life. Not here, here I don't mind because everyelse is doing that also.

[Icecream]

You said for the 'record' what are you referring to?

[Icecream]

I mean somebody either has lots of time, time, and energy to be tracking everything. My dr once asked something about being concerned that I was being watched. My response is that I am not all that special, really.
Anyway, depends on who, what, why, when, you ramble to.

[ninjapult]

Well, I don't think there's a way to make it stop but there are ways to make it better. Stimulants help slow the rambling down. Counseling helps with damage control after the fact.

The reason I say there's no way to stop rambling entirely is because I believe rambling is a prerequisite to add thinking. As the ramble gets going its like the brain actually wakes up. I start with the mumble or the stutter or the long winded rehash and then get to the good stuff. The train of thought, the conversation is like a shark: if it stops moving it dies and I need to keep talking to keep it moving in my mind. Another analogy of mine is a gas powered weed eater or lawn mower: you have to prime it, then crank it a few times to get it going. Then its loud and busy for awhile. Then you shut it off and put it away. That's how I talk. I write the same way, my mind going in too many directions at once, the typing too fast, the text filled with typos. Then I furiously edit it after the fact.

The good news is if you are contrite after the rambling most will accept it. The bad news is it's a constant struggle. It never goes away completely.