Conversational Quirks revisited - when I might be the quirky one!

3DOCTORS · #1 May 8, '12, 1:52 pm

Original thread by Kathryn Ann:

http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=665303

This was about the friend who monopolized a conversation. It made me think about my own bad habits. One is interrupting and another is my mind racing (I have ADD which feeds that) with ideas that the conversation connects with and that I want to express. And it feels so confusing and anxiety-producing to lose my train of thought.

I have some friends who are either very mellow and laid back, or extremely focused and able to keep a thought but what they're saying is interesting and I'm thinking of all kinds of replies that I do believe would be of interest to the person. But if I wait, they will be lost!

Or I see where the slower-talking, laid-back person is going with something and in my mind I'm like "Cut to the chase already!"

It is soooo hard to resist temptation to be conversationally rude in these situations!

Shame on me.

Anyone else relate - and if so, what has worked for you to keep you from exploding?

Rainaldo · #2 May 8, '12, 3:10 pm

Basically I just tell myself that I'm really not that interesting. Wh needs to hear what I think anyway?

And when I do think about the things that I have already said in conversations, I realize that it is so.

3DOCTORS · #3 May 11, '12, 5:07 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rainaldo

Basically I just tell myself that I'm really not that interesting. Wh needs to hear what I think anyway?

And when I do think about the things that I have already said in conversations, I realize that it is so.

I get the humility part and it makes sense. Still, it bugs me when my mind races with ideas - and it's the conversation that generates them - AND - I think they do relate to what the other person is saying but I know I'm going to forget them. It's just frustrating to experience it all the time.

Oh, well, I don't mean to sound defensive. I just wonder if others have found ways to cope when it generates pent-up anxiety. Maybe I should start carrying a little notepad and jot notes down about what the other person says as well as what it sparks in my mind. It might actually help me pay attention to them better!