Is it normal to talk to myself?

TEENGROWTH.COM
Q. I don't feel comfortable talking to my parents about my problems, nor is there a teacher I feel like I can talk to. I talk to myself a lot. I like to pretend that someone else is listening. Is this normal?
A. You are obviously aware that this is not a healthy situation. People need other people to talk to. People need to bounce ideas off and to get ideas from others. When you talk to other people you risk hearing things you do not want to hear. When you talk to yourself you normally get the answers you want, but not necessarily the answers you need. It is therefore safer to talk to yourself than to try to communicate with others.
You cannot grow as a person without interaction with others. Yes, you will make mistakes. Yes, you will be embarrassed. Yes, you will feel foolish at times. And yes, you will get answers you disagree with and argue about. After all the discussions and disagreements, your family will still be your family and still love you and your good friends will still be your friends. The more you open up and talk to others the more you will find that others have had or are having the same problems as you.
Their solutions to these problems may or may not be the right solution for you but it is a place to start.
If you cannot open up with your parents, a friend or a teacher, you need to find a professional with which to talk. Call your physician or talk to your school guidance counselor and get recommendations.