/anxiety

I’ve tried doing this for important presentations, I think it’s something anxious people do at the very least. It’s more important to get a good lay of the facts instead of placing importance on what you’ll actually say, that much is less-so important.

In social settings it’s something I definitely do if I have to speak up. Though I usually wait too long and the topic changes and then I lose my opportunity. I’ve had limited success with starting a conversation very basically with just a ‘hello’ and then branching out from there based on what has to be said.

Whenever I have to make a phone call or have some form of difficult conversation, yeah

And then the participants don’t follow the script you’ve rehearsed, so you have to improvise a new script on the spot.

Or, just freeze and stare at them until the script is resumed and/or time ends.

Yes. It's exhausting.

You know what's worse? When they follow the script exactly. If they do, why bother even talking to them? I mean, they're not safe enough to unmask around, hence the rehearsing. And you can guess their responses. I have run into this way too many times. I'm disappointed every time. If I've rehearsed a fight, and they follow the script exactly, it suddenly feels like playing chess against a toddler. Yeah, I'm going to win the argument. But does it even matter if I can fit all of their thoughts into mine? It makes me feel very alone when it happens.

Pretty sure that’s a general people thing. Basic human insecurity about other people and what is perceived as confrontation.

It's called practising what you preach 😤

This happens every time! Humans are so unpredictable.

I practise conversations in my head all the time. Honestly it has helped

Yes but not in a performative way. There's a thread of thinking in my head which goes over and over alt what exactly can I say and how the other party might react. This happens before and after a conversation, playing through their responses and what could I have said.

Helped or not, it can be exhausting.

Well yeah otherwise I wouldn't blend in

Ah ADHD

I mean this is just what they teach you in any intro to public speaking course. A conversation is just a form of public speaking, and I contend it's the people who prefer to improv everything who are wrong.