Do you also feel that your brain is always occupied with something or the other? Do you agree and do you consider yourself as an overthinker? Don’t worry, you are not alone.
You don’t even realize when an unnecessary thought makes its way to your brain, and thus you are not able to live your life completely.
No matter how much we try not to overthink, our thoughts never seem to stop. Our lifestyle and the rat race we are in have led to this overthinking. In this competition just to avoid disappointment, we end up fueling our thoughts to be there. It is like our brain is a browser with thousands of tabs open at once. It can trap individuals in a never-ending cycle of doubt and anxiety, preventing them from living fully in the present.
However, overthinking certain positive things can be good, the real issue arises when we create scenarios in our heads that will never actually happen. There are moments when our brain cannot stop replaying some negative events that have happened in the past. Thinking about such events we only get pain and anxiety.
There can be various reasons which lead us to the state of overthinking such as anxiety, fear of failure, perfectionism, or past traumas.
Overthinking is not a crime or disease
It is a phase we all go through in our lives, but this could also lead to forming a habit that eventually can get one into depression. Overthinking is often related to anxiety, traumatic experiences, or unresolved emotional issues.
Signs:
A person dealing with overthinking would often complain about having a headache, high blood pressure, and shortness of breath.
When we have too many things going on in our minds, we often lose clarity of thought and we are not confident enough to make important decisions.
How you can stop overthinking
- To stop overthinking, you should first become aware of when you are doing it. Whenever a negative thought makes its way to your brain, replacing them with more rational ones can be helpful.
- Practice mindfulness and stop dwelling on the past. You can not rewrite your past but you can write your future.
- Try to occupy yourself with the activities that intrigue you like hobbies, and exercises. Spending time with your loved ones can also help you distract yourself from overthinking.
- Practise acceptance of things that cannot be controlled instead, focusing on what can be changed is more important.
- Seeking support from family, friends, or a therapist for perspective and emotional support can provide valuable assistance.
Conclusion : It won’t happen overnight. You need to acknowledge the fact that there is an issue and pull up your socks before it becomes a pattern. Of course, it is not easy as your mind plays games with you all the time and you end up doubting every step and overthinking the way ahead. Being aware, practicing mindfulness, and not thinking much about the past as well as the future, you can escape of overthinking.