Friend continually talking over me

I have a friend, a bit like that. As she lives on her own I just let her natter on, and I get the odd word in here and there.
I still value her as a friend and wouldn't like to upset her.

No excuse for bad manners.
Pat her on the hand and look her straight in the eye..'I haven't finished speaking.'
..and then carry on with what you were saying.
And repeat... it does work.

My husband waits till I am half way through a sentence and starts talking. He usually says "I thought you had finished". In which case he wasn't really listening as he would have known I hadn't finished the sentence

It's very boorish. My brother does that. He's not interested in anything anyone else ever has to say. When he does that to me, I stop talking. When he "allows" me to speak, I say I don't want to say anything. He wonders why nobody rings him..........

I think we all know someone like that. The friend I have is also incredibly sensitive so if we ever say anything to her about it she is rushes off in tears. We just let her ramble on!

I like the patting hand idea!

I think you just need to cut her a bit of slack if she lives in her own - she might be desperate to talk to someone!

Agreed Luckygirl13
My BF is obsessed with her health and 90% of her conversations are about it. I do value her friendship, so it’s just a grin and bear it from me, then a moan to the kettle when I get home!

I must have told Minibaggs many times not to interrupt. One day I was put in my place as she said: "You imbertrupted me." 😅

You could try watching Thich Nhat Hahn's Youtube 'The Art of Deep Listening and Loving Speech' with her when you are alone with her.. it might help her in other social situations..

I’m sure I do this many times. If there is a lull in the conversation I try to fill it. Some people speak really slowly while I tend to gabble out any old thing. I also chip in with words when I realise what someone is trying to say. That makes me feel really bad so I have tried to curb doing that. Basically I need a big plaster over my mouth to make me shut up.

😂Doodle
I do that supplying words thing, it drives DP nuts.

Just allow your friend to do it OP and sigh inwardly, she’ll hardly change now and may get upset if you say anything.
As for the patting hand thing! Patronising.

I find myself wanting to do this sometimes, but only because I will think of something to say in a conversation and know that if I wait I shall have forgotten what I had to say! This is usually with my 91 year old neighbour whom I visit every day. She always dominates our chats and I rarely get a word in.

... just to clarify...The pat on the hand is not intended to be patronising... but to gain attention.... some folk can be hard to stop once started!!😀

I doubt you will be able to change her behaviour so maybe you will just have to accept that is how it will be when you see her.

After having a conversation with someone I sometimes think about what we have been speaking about, I wonder what people like that think and if they realise that they know nothing about what has happened in the listeners' life and do they realise why they have so few visitors.

Just wondering is this a recent development or has your friend always been like this. My experience of dementia sufferers is that they continually talk over you.

Dottynan

My husband waits till I am half way through a sentence and starts talking. He usually says "I thought you had finished". In which case he wasn't really listening as he would have known I hadn't finished the sentence

You're not on your own Dottynan.

Fleur20

... just to clarify...The pat on the hand is not intended to be patronising... but to gain attention.... some folk can be hard to stop once started!!😀

How on earth is the recipient of the hand pat supposed to know that?

I’d feel so humiliated you wouldn’t see me for dust!

We took my Dad to see an elderly relative who was in a care home recuperating for a few weeks after a fall.
We were there for two hours before she drew breath and actually said hello to him 🤦

I’ve spent the last three days amidst a great number of Americans. I don’t think I’ve managed to say more than two consecutive words without being interrupted or talked over.

I’ve come to the conclusion I’d better off talking to myself.

Doodle

I’m sure I do this many times. If there is a lull in the conversation I try to fill it. Some people speak really slowly while I tend to gabble out any old thing. I also chip in with words when I realise what someone is trying to say. That makes me feel really bad so I have tried to curb doing that. Basically I need a big plaster over my mouth to make me shut up.

I think you might be my twin!

My no.1 son does this ALL the time. He’s the loveliest chap and we’ve tried telling him but to no avail. When he’s gone we say ‘and breathe’ . 😵‍💫.

Perhaps you could gently ask your friend if she's having problems with her hearing as you've noticed recently that she seems to interrupt when you're talking and haven't finished what you were trying to say to her. It might trigger a conversation about what she's doing.