How to Stop Overthinking?
How to Stop Overthinking?
Worrying and overthinking are common to all of us, but when we don’t address them, they can have a negative impact on our overall sense of well-being.
What is Overthinking?
Overthinking refers to the excessive and prolonged analysis of a particular topic or situation, which can consume one’s attention and make it difficult to concentrate on other things.
Although some people may view overthinking as beneficial because it allows for a thorough examination of an issue or problem from various perspectives and potential outcomes, studies indicate otherwise.
Symptoms of overthinking
If you are uncertain if you are overthinking a particular issue or concern, there are some signs you can watch for:
- Difficulty focusing on anything other than the subject causing distress
- Inability to feel at ease
- Persistent feelings of anxiety
- Becoming fixated on things you can’t change
- Mental fatigue and exhaustion
- Frequent negative thoughts
- Replaying a situation or experience repeatedly in your head
- Doubting or second-guessing your choices
- Imagining the worst-case scenarios.
Thereafter, overthinking has been linked to increasing the risk of certain mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
What to do?
Here are a few things to do when overthinking:
- Take a deep breath
- Recognize the issue or concern that is causing overthinking
- Try to view the situation from a broader perspective to gain a better understanding
- Act like a third party to you and your problem
- Stay in the present moment and avoid dwelling over the past or worrying about the future.
- Recognize your accomplishments to build self-confidence and counteract self-doubt.
- Identify and challenge automatic negative thoughts (ANTs)
- Practice compassion and kindness with others
- Practice self-compassion
- Face and embrace your fears to build resilience
- Workout
- Practice meditation
- Seek assistance or support from family or friends
- Seek professional help
Seek Professional Help
Putting an end to overthinking can enable you to take concrete steps to address the issues that are causing you distress, rather than merely ruminating on them. Instead of repeatedly mulling over a problem in your head, you can take practical actions to find a resolution. Contact Dr. Carla for better assistance.
