Overthinking means talking in mind or repetition of the same thoughts for too long a time

“How should I do this thing?”

“Does this person have evil motives for me?”

“Am I doing it right?”

All of the above sentences display markers of overthinking. All of our decisions have consequences and often lead to a stream of thoughts that can be crippling and potentially destructive. So, in short, “overthinking” is any kind of overthinking. Focused thinking on the negative and what can happen in any situation, which can keep you from moving forward in your life. Overthinking is the opposite of living in the present, the opposite of mindfulness – it makes you fearful of the future and worried about the past. Overthinking makes you very self-conscious and makes you believe that you are not good enough or that nothing will work for you. The two basic factors that underlie overthinking are stress and anxiety. Beyond these basics, self-esteem issues and a lack of confidence are other common causes of overthinking.

The two basic things that underly overthinking is stress and anxiety. Signs that you might be overthinking include:

  • Dwelling on past events or situations

  • Second-guessing decisions you’ve made

  • Replaying your mistakes in your mind

  • Rehashing challenging or uncomfortable conversations

  • Fixating on things you can't control, change or improve

  • Imagining the worst-case scenario or outcome

Now that we know the root cause of overthinking, we need to eliminate this habit. Observe not only your thoughts but also how your body reacts and notice your behaviour when you overthink.

Meditation and mindfulness

Meditation and being mindful have shown to enhance complete psychological well-being.

Breathing exercises

When you focus on slowing your breath down, you slow your heart, which helps to calm your mind.

Journaling

The key is awareness. You need to focus on what you thought and be aware of them.

Importance of Professional Counseling: A friend or family member may listen to you, but they aren’t professionally, technically qualified or experienced to offer you professional advice. If you wish you can contact us at MindTribe to receive help from our team of expert psychologists.

About MindTribe.in.

MindTribe Founder Dr. Prerna Kohli, India’s eminent psychologist, established the company to leverage the strength of the online to make counseling affordable and accessible to everyone. MindTribe provides counseling, workshops, support groups, forums, and eLearning.

About the Author.

Gautami Kumbhar is a psychologist at MindTribe.in. You can learn more about her by clicking here

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of MindTribe.in, the Founders, or management team.

Acknowledgement: All images used are open source and from Unsplash.