Overthinking: What Exactly is Overthinking
“Overthinking: the ‘art’ of creating problems that weren’t even there.” ~ Unknown
Hands up if this sounds like you…
You’re tired, your day is done and you’re going to bed. You’ve settled down in your bed and as you’re falling asleep, your mind starts up and you start to think about each and every little thing!
The to-do lists... The stupid things you did or said... Things that happened last year, 5 years ago, 10 years ago, in childhood…
Perhaps it’s reliving conversations and imagining a different outcome. Maybe it’s imagining situations that haven’t even happened yet. Suddenly you’re wide awake and your mind is going a mile a minute.
I’ve been there! It’s not fun!
I used to wonder why this happened to me. I’d even try staying up super late hoping exhaustion would help me avoid it. Going to bed early (especially if I wasn’t tired) only made it worse. Thankfully, I’ve found a few tips and tricks over the years which have helped me stop overthinking or quiet my mind when it does happen.
Tricks to Stop Overthinking
If you’re stuck in a thought loop, the first thing is to recognize it for what it is and be gentle with yourself!
My favourite trick: I ask myself “Is there anything I can do about the situation right now?” It’s very important that I’m completely honest with myself about the answer.
This is usually enough to interrupt the pattern and stop it.
In truth, there’s never been a time when the answer was ‘yes, there’s something I can do about the situation right then’. More often than not, whatever I’m thinking about happened in the past or hasn’t occurred so there’s nothing I can do about it.
By asking the question and realizing there’s nothing I can do, I find it’s easier to let go of what I was thinking about. This helps me to stop overthinking and relax.
If by chance there is something you can do about it right then, get up and do it if it’s quick. If not, make a note to do it first thing in the morning. Having a plan helps the mind calm down because the situation has been or will be dealt with.
Have you ever wondered what causes overthinking or why it seems to happen more at night?
This is the time we aren’t running around doing all the things so our minds have an opportunity to be heard.
Stress and overthinking are linked; they feed each other.
When we’re stressed, our minds usually have more things to remember and to do than when we’re relaxed. This is an optimal breeding ground for overthinking, overanalyzing, dissecting and excessive worrying.
Overthinking creates stress because we’re worried about the things that have gone wrong, could go wrong and/or are currently going wrong.
This can also lead to physical symptoms like insomnia, nausea, loose stools, body aches and tension, headaches, dizziness and increased heart rate or emotional symptoms like anxiety, fear and/or depression.
Learning to notice when you’re overthinking and noticing any recurring themes can be very helpful in addressing why your mind is doing this.
Keeping a notebook by your bed can be helpful. This allows you to write down any themes or recurring patterns that you notice. It's also great for writing down things you’re telling yourself not to forget.
Let me know how this goes! I’d love to hear from you over on Facebook - comment on my most recent post or send me a message.
Andrea
PS - if you’re still struggling with overthinking or are experiencing physical symptoms, please book a consultation call to chat about options for additional support.
