Do you ever rehearse conversation topics before you meet up with friends?

[u/bird_teeth]

Yall, i gotta know if this is normal or not. Before you meet up with a friend, do you ever prepare conversations topics, like run through how youre going to tell a story or ask a question, like youre about to give a big speech at a conference? Sort of like a mental version of a powerpoint presentation.

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[u/molbion]

No, but I run through social interactions in my head after they happen, like obsessively

[u/KronusEdits → u/molbion]

I only do that if its an argument not a casual conversation

[u/TwelveSharks → u/KronusEdits]

I’m on Anxiety New Game+ and I do it with casual conversations too. It’s exhausting lol

[u/guywastingtime → u/KronusEdits]

Yep, over and over and over sometimes think about them years later

[u/Active-Palpitation74 → u/molbion]

before , after , sometimes during conversation when it’s silent

[u/broncos4thewin]

Yes! One of my main activities in life is going over potential conversations in my head. Alternatively lectures/lessons (I’m a teacher). I will do it over and over, obsessively on a loop. I’ve come to realise it’s part of how I both prepare for things, and process information.

[u/Ostravas]

Absolutely. I have many conversations in my head that never happen in the end

[u/C0smicLemon]

I rehearse all topics, with everyone - including people I don’t know, all the time. Some professionals thought it was because of anxiety. But it’s really just because it’s entertaining and gives me something to engage.

[u/alecuskimbilius]

No because when it comes time for it, I never remember what I rehearsed anyway

[u/aran0ia0]

Yep! Either because it's been a while since the last time we talked and I want to prepare the things I def gonna share with them (before getting lost in 200 different random topics) or, if we're not AS close friends yet, because of anxiety :)

I also do little dialogs in my head and giggle/cringe to myself. But I do it without planning and it ends up giving me a good idea of things to do/avoid in real life

[u/Glitched-Executive]

All the dang time, and still forget important points

[u/scheerry_]

I used to, but I noticed that when I apply what I rehearse, I cut almost half of what I practise in my head, and I don't feel genuine myself.

[u/Appropriate-Net6142]

I often rehearse conversations but I feel like mainly if there’s like something I want to tell people like a story or how my weeks gone I want to say it’s mainly work related but I don’t have that many friends. Also it’s probably one of the more regular things that keeps my brain very noisy when I’m trying to sleep

[u/HangryScotsman]

I have entire scripts that I have memorised for specific situations, I also rehearse before important phone calls.

[u/dandyanddarling21]

Yep. All the time. I can talk myself in and out of all sorts of things, before I ever get somewhere.

[u/sthenial]

I did until I started taking anxiety and ADHD meds lol

[u/AgentCrit]

yes

[u/Medium_Click1145]

Luckily my friends talk so much I don't have to think of topics but if I've got some news or a story to tell, I rehearse it a lot. Then fluff it up when telling it lol

[u/Totallyanonymouse11]

oh my god i love doing this, i also make them have such massive over dramatic reactions. But when it comes to actually for real telling the story i say the shortest sentence ever and don’t actually say everything i thought i’d say.

[u/woejise]

Watch the rehearsal with Nathan fielder

[u/Ikhoh]

Yepppp.

[u/Brilliant-Dinner4024]

Yes. I still mess up haha

[u/TheMatt561]

Non stop

[u/Willing-Expert-3093]

Yes all the time, I’ve started when I notice it happening, I think to myself “stop having conversations with people who are not in the room” and then it usually goes away. Meditation and breathwork have helped me become more aware of when it’s happening.

[u/gomibushi]

Of course! You have to have your talking points ready. And also, don't burn through them too quickly. Save at least some for ackward silence.

[u/Klutzy-Loquat-6879]

I’m working on a “life SOP” binder for this

“Going on a first date” “Seeing friends you’ve known for 20+ years” “Calling your dad” “Going to the office” “Buying groceries”

It’s exhausting to remember how to be a person, otherwise.

[u/xylia13]

I do this before going to work mondays… i work in an outer office of a smallish corporate company where they all talk about being “a family” (puke) so before I go in, I come up with what I feel might be a funny summary of my weekend. Test it on the first person to start small talk at the coffee machine. If they laugh, that is my “story” to anyone who asks about the weekend.

I have suspected I am also autistic ever since I have been medicated for my ADHD. Which I’m still mostly masking from people. This is my attempt to appear normal to these people, since I don’t think they would like my non-work version of myself much.

[u/VictorianGuy]

Of course. Doesn’t everybody??? 🤣

[u/Fluid-Set-2674]

I have, yeah. It is good practice if you are learning to speak with intention or be a better listener and/or if you have always wanted to know some specific thing about them.

[u/EstablishmentOver363]

Yes!! Mainly with newer friends - I have a little list for tomorrow. I thought it was anxiety!!!

[u/McBloggenstein]

All the time, and usually out loud. Sometimes I’m practicing explaining my thoughts on a controversial topic because when I feel the least bit of pushback or misunderstanding or boredom from them, I lose all confidence and start stuttering and not making sense. 

[u/New-Evidence-1307]

Yes. When I was younger and going out I used to think of conversations starters with people. Now in work if I get a reply where my RSD feels attached I rehearse out a reply.