i was actually just having this convo with someone! i find that people who do have a monologue like me find it hard to believe people don’t. i’ve heard you guys think in feelings and connections like a flow chart but like how do you do that without words lol. for me the voice doesn’t belong to anyone! it’s not mine, it’s not gendered, it’s not identified…it’s just a voice. i also find people without an internal monologue seem to think we have a narrator dictating our every action but it a bit more abstract than that.
my brain is never quiet as there’s always a voice processing my emotions, reactions and perceptions at all times. but the processing isn’t complete thoughts with proper punctuation, just a constant barrage of information, working in tandem with images and feelings. its likely why i’m prone to over thinking and snowballing (when i was on SSRIs briefly, it all definitely got more quiet up here).
also, i’ve noticed a lot of people who don’t have a monologue also can’t do the classic “picture the apple” test but is that the case? if you can picture the apple do you think pictorially? i just couldn’t imagine not having my consciousness mutter in the back of my head constantly.