In psychology, mental commentary refers to an ongoing internal stream of thoughts, interpretations, judgments, or self-talk about what is happening around you or inside your mind. It is part of normal human cognition and self-awareness.
Examples may include:
- “I probably sounded awkward.”
- “That person seems upset.”
- “I need to remember this later.”
- “Why did I do that?”
- “This situation feels dangerous.”
Mental commentary may be:
Neutral
Simple observation or reflection:
- “I’m tired.”
- “Traffic is heavy today.”
Positive
Supportive or encouraging self-talk:
- “I handled that well.”
- “I can figure this out.”
Negative
Critical, fearful, or pessimistic thinking:
- “I always fail.”
- “Everyone is judging me.”
Automatic
Many thoughts arise quickly and automatically without conscious intention. In cognitive psychology, these are often called automatic thoughts.
Mental Commentary vs. Reality
A key concept in therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment
Therapy is that:
Thoughts are interpretations, not necessarily facts.
Mental commentary can sometimes become distorted through cognitive biases such as:
- catastrophizing
- mind reading
- overgeneralization
- black and white thinking
Healthy vs. Unhealthy Mental Commentary
Healthy
- Reflective
- Flexible
- Reality-based
- Self-correcting
- Helps problem solving
Unhealthy
- Constant self-criticism
- Rumination
- Obsessive replaying
- Fear based prediction
- Harsh internal attacks
Excessive negative commentary may be associated with anxiety, depression, trauma-related conditions, and obsessive thinking patterns.
Mental Commentary and Psychosis
Most people experience internal self-talk. However, mental commentary becomes clinically important when a person:
- cannot distinguish thoughts from external reality,
- experiences voices as externally generated,
- or develops highly fixed delusional interpretations.
“Running commentary” may describe a type of auditory hallucination where voices narrate a person’s actions continuously. This may occur in conditions like Schizophrenia, though hallucinations may also appear in other medical: Consult With a Medical Doctor, or psychological conditions.
Reducing Distressing Mental Commentary
Helpful approaches may include:
- mindfulness
- cognitive restructuring
- thought labeling
- grounding techniques
- journaling
- therapy
- sleep regulation and stress reduction
For example:
- Instead of “I’m doomed,” noticing: “I’m having an anxious thought.”
That creates psychological distance between the thinker and the thought.
Shervan K Shahhian
LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 