Overthinking: how to stop overthinking and start enjoying life
Thinking too much hurts. How many times have we heard this repeated? Yet, sometimes it seems impossible to stop the flow of thoughts that rack our minds. If you too happen to be obsessively brooding over the small and big issues of life, about the past and the future, thus forgetting to enjoy the present, you could suffer from overthinking, a problem that, although it is quite widespread, should not be underestimated because, in the long run, it could compromise our mental health. Below, we will delve deeper into this issue and reveal some solutions with which to cope with overthinking, curbing thoughts, especially negative ones.
And if you need to find your inner peace, watch this video and find out how to perform acupressure, a technique with which you can relieve stress.
What is overthinking?
Overthinking is an expression that comes from the English language, whose literal meaning corresponds to the term "thinking too much". It is an irrepressible mental process in which thoughts overlap relentlessly, inevitably exhausting the person who is affected by them. This phenomenon is part of a social context where people are called to take on an ever-increasing load of commitments and where the "ubiquity" guaranteed by digital media only increases their stress. And it is then that the individual, crushed by worries and infinite responsibilities, does not find peace and is overwhelmed by rumination, a cognitive process that is dysfunctional, crowding the mind with intrusive and obsessive thoughts.
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Sometimes, when a person tends to think too much, there is the mistaken belief that this phenomenon is due to a particularly dynamic and reactive brain activity and, therefore, to an above average intelligence. In reality, overthinking is a serious problem and should not be underestimated at all. Ruminating too much and too long further complicates life, dulls the mind, creates confusion, and prevents us from finding immediate solutions to problems. The frantic whirlwind of thoughts, often negative and irrational, that characterizes overthinking, prevents us from seeing things clearly and living the present situation to the full, making us anxious about the future. In this way, we feel bound to a condition that clearly makes us frustrated and unhappy, with no way out or possibility of progress.
What are the causes of overthinking?
We all happen to experience particularly stressful moments and be tormented by one distressing thought after another. Overthinking, in fact, is a very common experience and can be caused by various factors such as:
- The environment in which we find ourselves: whether it is work or family, the people we are surrounded by all day every day and the atmosphere we breathe in that particular context greatly affect our state of mental health and they can be at the origin of one or more disturbances.
- The current situation: Unfortunately, it can't always be all roses. Even if we seem to be in the right place, alongside the right people, we all go through difficult times, during which something terribly worries us and which put a strain on our mental stability. After all, life is made up of ups and downs and our mind is undoubtedly the first part of the body to be affected by moments of crisis.
- Trauma: The most unhappy experiences can greatly affect a person's psyche. At times, a trauma can trigger a series of harmful behaviors in the individual, including an uncontrollable mania for control. The anxiety of having to manage all aspects of one's existence flawlessly is undoubtedly one of the most recurrent causes of overthinking, since, in an attempt to achieve perfection in everything one does, the mind does not have a moment of respite.
Thinking Too Much: What Are the Consequences?
Overthinking, if ignored, can even result in a nervous breakdown. Being tormented by chaotic and unstoppable intellectual activity can, in fact, have serious consequences and lead to consequences that should not be underestimated. Among the most common we find:
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Headache
- Confusion
- Attention deficit
- Constant sense of discomfort
- Perennial dissatisfaction
- Depression
- Addictions
- Food disorders
- Insomnia
- Self-destructive behaviors
How to stop thinking too much
In life, we need to take care of our mind, just like we do when we have a physical problem. Often, in fact, we tend to ignore the alarm bells that come to us from the brain and to diminish mental illness, mistaking it for simple suggestion. Overthinking itself, as also highlighted at the beginning of this article, is not always taken seriously and the resulting symptoms are often neglected until they take over, even hindering the performance of normal daily activities. If you feel that you are ruminating excessively and that this may be due to overthinking, below we list some possible solutions with which you can rediscover the well-being and serenity you miss and block suffocating thoughts in the bud.
1. Focused attention
A generally effective method to curb thoughts and find calm is that of focused attention. When you realize that your mind is about to leave for one of its pindaric journeys between one thought and another, stop immediately and start focusing solely and exclusively on what surrounds you. Describing everything you see in great detail, whether it's a painting or a banal chest of drawers, will help you regain clarity and get your feet back on the ground.
2. Write
Writing down your thoughts not only serves as an outlet, but also helps to organize them and to better process ideas, keeping the cognitive process under control.
3. Meditation
It is not a legend that meditation helps to find inner peace. If overthinking puts a strain on your days, seriously consider this option. It has been shown, in fact, that repeating the word "ohm" is able to calm thoughts and calm the brain.
4. Breathing
Breathing is another exercise that is usually done during meditation sessions to calm anxiety. If you feel that negative thoughts are about to take over, lie down on the bed and for at least 10 minutes do nothing but inhale deeply with your nose and exhale with your mouth and you will see that this technique will help you relax in no time!
5. Focus on the present
Even if it seems impossible, and often it is, try as much as you can to focus only and exclusively on the present. As Lao Tzu said, "If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present". The secret is to accept that life is full of unexpected events and to understand, once and for all, that today is the most precious thing we have at our disposal. maybe, we risk missing the best moments of our trip. In this sense, it might be useful to make a list of things for which we are currently grateful in our lives. This trick would allow us to see the situation in the right perspective!
6. Distractions
Distractions have always been an antidote to overthinking. Having the mind absorbed in any type of activity, whether it be painting or sports, allows us to keep the flow, or to be so concentrated in the things we do that we do not leave room for worries and distressing ruminations.
7. Ask for help
If you feel that none of these solutions can help you and your peace of mind is too compromised, do not hesitate to seek help from a specialist. Contact a competent psychotherapist who will be able to accompany you on a tailor-made therapeutic path, at the end of which you will be able to regain possession of your existence, without being paralyzed by anxiety.
