When the mind is continuously dwelling on anxious thoughts and feelings, it may be due to overthinking.
WHAT IS OVERTHINKING?
Overthinking is a vicious cycle in which individuals try multiple ways and make multiple attempts to break free; however, they end up overanalyzing, assuming, and overthinking again. It feels like a trap with no way out, especially after multiple failed attempts to break the loop.
Overthinking is not a minor issue; however, it is not discussed to the extent that it would provide individuals with solutions that actually make a difference. When individuals dealing with overthinking try to approach someone they trust in the hope of solutions, they might repeatedly hear the same thing: “don’t think too much, it is nothing to worry about, you will be ok, give yourself time, or nothing is happening as you are thinking.” For some individuals, this may work out, while it may not for others, and they might get more anxious and think more about why they even approached someone for help. They start feeling more sad for themselves, downgrade themselves, consider themselves incapable, and may also think they are being too dependent and “too much”.Thus, a new cycle of overthinking begins.
With so much going on in the brain, overthinking leaves a person so overwhelmed and trapped that it not only affects their professional career but also their personal life, including relationships and friendships. In their professional workspace, they start comparing their capabilities and feel they are not doing enough, despite their work being done, and this makes them more anxious, affecting their confidence, which then starts to affect the work.
In terms of relationships, individuals tend to seek constant reassurance; they start noticing the slightest change in behaviour and tone, overanalyze every text, overdo things, and take everything to the ’emotional heart’.Initially, some may try to calm down their thoughts and understand themselves and their partner; however, overthinking is such a culprit that takes over the human mind, leading to broken or disturbed relations.
WHY DO PEOPLE OVERTHINK?
There could be multiple reasons individuals overthink:
- past trauma and experiences in different aspects of life
- pressure of society
- comparison with others
- fear of failure or losing bonds and friendships
- fear of experiencing the same mental and emotional breakdowns
- feeling neglected
- overexpecting and feeling everything too deeply
HOW DOES OVERTHINKING IMPACT?
While people overthink because they fear that something wrong might happen again, and to not feel disheartened or emotionally sad, they overthink to calm down or find solutions. However, overthinking about things that do not exist has never positively impacted anyone, but it can make situations worse.
In relationships, overthinking leads to:
- trust issues
- constantly worrying about being too much or too little
- misinterpreting text and words
- fear of open communication
In professional life, overthinking leads to :
- low social confidence
- pressure of not doing at the level best
- unable to make decisions quickly
- Reduced motivation and focus on work
- overanalyzing the behavior of every other colleague
On mental health:
- depression and anxiety
- insomnia ( sleep disturbances)
- stress
Overthinking may also lead to :
- stress-induced hair loss
- Acne and dull skin, which may impact individuals more
Over time, overthinking can lead to severe depression, and most of the time, such mental health concerns are taken very lightly or neglected, which can lead to more serious issues, including suicide.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?
Firstly, do not blame yourself for feeling too deeply and analyzing situations. As humans, experiences in life set alarms for the body and mind. To protect itself, the mind thinks a lot to protect its peace and ensure homeostasis; however, we tend to overthink while trying to avoid hurting ourselves and our loved ones.
Well, here’s the thing: “think, but think mindfully“. To elaborate, as humans, the mind is always dwelling on thoughts and past experiences or incidents. Whenever the mind is stuck in a continuous loop, take a deep breath, wait for a few minutes, and try to analyze your thoughts. Analyze:
- What those thoughts are about and how they are affecting you
- Are those thoughts actually in existence, and do they play any role in your growth in any aspect of your life?
- Do those thoughts bring you peace or more chaos
- How are your thoughts affecting the people you love and your surroundings?
After analyzing, if you notice, your thoughts would bring positive outcomes to you, your relationships, and your career, then put those thoughts into action; however, if those thoughts drive you negatively, then it is best to TAKE A BREAK.
TAKE A BREAK
What I mean by saying TAKE A BREAK is that change your current environment and do something else, rather than replaying the same thoughts.
- Go out for a walk
- play with your pet
- Talk with the flowers or just appreciate the beauty of nature
- do something you love, for instance, sketching, painting, writing, reading
- Go to the gym or do some form of exercise to redirect the mind
- write down your thoughts
In case the overthinking takes place at work :
- Take deep breaths and do backward counting ( it really calms the brain)
- Listen to some soft music or anything you love ( if you get a hang of your mobile at work )
- Get occupied with completing your assigned task religiously
- Write down your thoughts to empty your mind
By taking a break, you allow your brain to redirect to important things and also help to stay in the present rather than replaying past situations or worrying about the future. By staying in the moment, you become more focused, disciplined, achieve more growth, peace, and have a clear vision of your goals.
Moreover, practice being independent and avoid expecting too much from people. To further explain, most people overthink because they expect too much from others or take others’ opinions and comments too seriously. Well, that’s human nature; however, if we keep on living up to others’ opinions and expecting that everything will work out the way we want, then we will not be able to break away from the loop of overthinking therefore BREAK AWAY FROM EXPECTATIONS AND OPINIONS and do what you think is beneficial for you while keeping in mind to not harm any other person. Even the holy scriptures say, ” do your deeds and don’t worry about their fruits “. Therefore, do your work either in professional or personal life without thinking about outcomes.
CONCLUSION
Thinking isn’t wrong, but whatever we think should have positive impacts and should lead us closer to our goals. The goal is to break away from overthinking that leads to negative self-criticism and move towards a better understanding of our thoughts and making wise decisions from them. The way we think impacts how we build our future; therefore, while staying in the present, work and think in a way that will ensure you build a future you want for yourself.
Overthinking is not a weakness. It just shows that you feel too deeply and care a lot. It is the way some of us are designed who choose to find deep answers in a world that continuously evolves around materialistic things, and choose to hide emotions, as it is considered weak; however, life isn’t meant to be lived in the brain, right?. Therefore, feel your emotions, let your mind think, but control your thoughts and emotions by applying logic to your thoughts.
YOU ARE NOT WEAK. YOU ARE PRECIOUS AND SENT TO EARTH TO ACHIEVE YOUR DREAMS, SO COME OUT OF THE MIND AND LIVE IN THE PRESENT.
DISCLAIMER: This article is from a personal point of view and based on my thoughts, experiences, and opinions. It is not intended to be professional, medical, or psychological. Readers are encouraged to talk with a registered health professional for further guidance.
