Overthinking isn’t a medical condition nor is it a medical term. This subconscious habit can negatively impact our physical and mental health. In most cases, overthinking dwells on the negative; a negative thought, something that happened in the past, or factors that trigger anxiety.
Everyone overthinks, but having the ability to stop yourself from doing it excessively is crucial to maintaining your well-being.
Inhibits Problem Solving Ability
Overthinking tends to increase distress, and it dwells on a problem rather than thinking about finding a solution to that problem. For example, overthinking about what to say in an average conversation, may feel like a big deal or a life-or-death scenario if you’re an overthinker. In short, overthinking won’t help you find the right words to say.
What you can do: Overthinking can become such a habit that you often don’t realize you’re doing it. Start by being aware of your thoughts. Pay attention to any kind of thought that makes you feel in any way negative. May it be anxious, agitated, or insecure. Once you have the thought, acknowledge that thinking about them isn’t doing you any good and is therefore useless to you. You have to learn to accept that the only thinking that matters is when it leads to a positive action.
Another thing to think about is that thinking about your problems will not be helpful, but thinking about the solution is. Challenge yourself to always think about the solutions rather than dwelling on the problem.
Contributes to Lack of Sleep
Overthinking produces intrusive thoughts that keeps our minds active and gets in the way of a good night’s sleep. One negative thought can lead to a stressful one, and the next thing you know, you’re complaining about how you can’t turn your mind off, resulting in lack of sleep.
In order to stop this from happening, you have to stop feeding your mind these active negative thoughts. Do some relaxation techniques before bed. Play some classical music, do some relaxing yoga stretches, or simply light a scented candle. Start developing a night routine that will prepare you to get better sleep during the night. If you continue to experience lack of sleep due to overthinking or other stress-related matters, consider talking to a physician.
Physical Exhaustion
When you overthink and it causes you to feel anxious, you may also feel that it takes its toll on your body. The stress builds and you suddenly feel exhausted. If overthinking is leaving you feeling physically exhausted then you may change up your habits. If you catch yourself overthinking, pause and meditate.
Indulge in pampering routines; a little self-love goes a long way. Get a long massage or get dressed up or made up to go and have a quiet lunch on your own. You can also add a little vitamin to your hair to make it look healthier. Order up a fancy, green shake like a fruit smoothie with sea moss; weight loss and better gut health are just some of the amazing sea moss benefits you may experience.
Whatever it is that makes you feel good, healthy, and happy, do it. Try to change your eating habits and cut out foods that can leave you feeling drained and depressed. Such foods are those high in sugar and saturated fats. Instead, incorporate unprocessed food like fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins into your diet.
Mental Fatigue
If you’re always fixated on your problems, or you dwell too much on the past, it could mentally drain you, at worst, it can lead to mental health problems. Overthinking is stressful yet it’s a habit that can be difficult to break. You end up getting less and less peace of mind, until you experience other mental issues like depression or anxiety.
To combat this, try to exercise more often, and surround yourself with things that you enjoy. If you feel like you can’t get over it on your own, you may want to reach out to a mental health professional or talk to a licensed physician.
Anyone can get caught up in their own thoughts and overthink. The upside is that we have control over our thoughts. Instead of letting it control us and our moods, we have to learn how to change our perspective and switch from overthinking to a more productive and positive mindset.
Worrying isn’t bad, it means you’re human, but you have to learn when to stop yourself whenever you feel like you’re worrying too much. Replace overthinking with meditation, self-reflection, and finding a solution to the problem. This way, you’re going to have a more peaceful and positive mindset that always has control over the matter at hand.
