Recognizing Overthinking and How to Control It

Recognizing Overthinking

Overthinking is analyzing one or many topics excessively. Although overthinking is not recognized as a mental illness, it can be a sign of a mental illness.

Overthinking can include:

• Continuous thoughts of past events

• Replaying decisions that you have made and wondering if they were the right decisions

• Frequent pondering on uncontrollable situations

• A negative viewpoint of outcomes for many situations

Overthinking can occur due to several causes including stress, anxiety, and doubting oneself.

This can cause an individual to become overwhelmed with negative thoughts and can be harmful rather than healthy.

How to control overthinking

• Be aware of what you are sensing and feeling

• Challenge your thoughts

• Focus on a topic that will not cause you any anxiety or sadness

• Use breathing techniques

• Meditate

• Set out a time to reflect on the topic and then move past it

• Focus on solutions and not the problems

Although overthinking is not a mental illness it is proper to consult with a therapist in times where you cannot control your thoughts as this may lead to anxiety and depression.

Written by: Chantay Stanley, LCSWA