Have you ever caught yourself speaking so fast that you had to stop just to catch your breath? Or maybe you’ve seen people around you struggle to keep up with your words. Talking too quickly can be frustrating—it can leave others confused and stop you from fully expressing yourself. The truth is, fast talking doesn’t happen by chance. It’s often tied to deeper psychological factors such as personality, past experiences, or emotions like anxiety and excitement. In this article, we’ll explore why some people talk faster than others and share practical ways to slow down, so you can express yourself more clearly and confidently.
What causes a person to talk fast?
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Nervousness
You may have noticed that you start talking faster when you are asked to speak in front of a group or a crowd. For example, giving a presentation in your office. This might be because you are under pressure. When people are nervous, vulnerable, or anxious, they are more likely to speak faster than usual. This could be because they are afraid of being judged by others. Another reason we may speak quickly during presentations is to ‘get through’ the nerve-racking experience as soon as possible.
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Excitement
We tend to talk fast when we are happy, excited, passionate about something, or want to share good news. This might be because we are overwhelmed with positive feelings and just cannot wait to share them with the people around us.
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Anger
People tend to talk faster when they are angry or enraged. This is because anger generally interferes with our ability to think rationally. It also creates an urgency to get all our emotions out, making it difficult for us to take a pause.
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Childhood Experiences
This might sound surprising, but fast talking might have its roots in childhood experiences. If someone grows up in a family with many members, talking fast may be the only way to get attention or feel heard. Some children might learn to speak fast if they have to struggle to get their point across due to high competition for attention in school.
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Fear of Interruption
Some people speak rapidly because they fear being interrupted or not being able to get their point across. Speaking quickly can be a way of ensuring that they are heard and do not get cut off in between their speech.
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Speed of Thoughts
Some people tend to have a lot of thoughts at the same time. In keeping with the pace of their thoughts, they end up speaking faster. They might speak before they think, making it difficult for them to filter their thoughts. It is an overwhelming experience to juggle multiple thoughts at a time.
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Mental-Health Conditions
Sometimes fast-talking can be a sign of an undiagnosed mental health condition. Conditions such as psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and anxiety disorders are all associated with an increased rate of speaking.
How to stop talking fast?
Fast-talking can really hinder our ability to communicate effectively with people; hence, it is important to regulate our speech rate. Here are a few tips for doing the same:
- Start becoming aware of your speech rate by monitoring it
- Mindfully start taking pauses as you speak
- Ask the listeners to give you a reminder when they see you speaking quickly
- Check in with the listener to see if they got your point so far, and pause to summarise.
Conclusion
It is important to note that variations in speech are absolutely normal, and fast speaking may not always be a result of any underlying psychological condition. If you identify that you are a fast talker, it is possible to work on it through practice, self-awareness and short check-ins with listeners as you speak.
If talking too fast is causing significant disruptions in your daily communication, you can reach out to our expert psychologists, who can help you discover the underlying reasons while also providing you with techniques to manage it. Click here..to book a session right away
References:
- Do You Talk Too Fast? How to Slow Down | Psychology Today. (n.d.). Retrieved October 16, 2023, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/communication-success/201911/do-you-talk-too-fast-how-to-slow-down
- The Racing Mind: The Difficulties of Being a Fast Talker. (2022, January 7). Exploring Your Mind. https://exploringyourmind.com/fast-talker/
- Why Do I Talk So Fast? (2021, July 19). Hidden Strength. https://hiddenstrength.com/for-me/mental-health/anxiety/why-do-i-talk-so-fast/
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