How to stop overthinking | Multiple ways to stop overthinking
Well everyone in his life overthink once in a while. Overthink happens due to some disturbance in your smooth life or while face some difficult situation.
For eg You need a job urgently and your work interview schedule in next 2 days. In this situation most of people think – what will happen If I fail?
What will be the question? You check company review and if there are some bad review you think again I should attain the interview or not. At night before interview you still think of interview. You think so much while eating, talking .This sometimes gives you anxiety. Even after interview you think
interview like my answer or not? . He/she will select me or not? You are thinking so much. Well I also think so much but not to worry I have a
solution to the problem of overthinking. Let’s first check what is overthink in term of Psychology.
What is overthinking?
Overthink is grappling with your thoughts or thinking too much for long time. Its involve excessive thinking, running more thoughts in your mind
to the point where it cause stress or anxiety.
Types of overthinking?
Overthinking have two types or you could say patterns.
Ruminating
In ruminating worry its always think about past and worrying negative things happen in past. Thoughts like
- I shouldn’t quit my youtube channel.
- I shouldn’t have said those things at the interview yesterday. Interviewer must think I’m an idiot.
- I shouldn’t left my ex-girlfriend .I would be more happier with her.
Persistent (Worrying)
In Persistent worry negative thoughts or predictions about future outcomes. Thoughts like
- I’m going to embarrass myself tomorrow when I give that interview. I know I’m going to forget everything that I studied for interview I’m supposed to say.
- I think I will doing this work rest of my life. Still I wouldn’t save for retirement.
Note :- Self-Doubt is also type of overthinking where excessive questioning yourself may lead to lack of self-confidence.
Causes of Overthinking
There are multiple reasons or situations can cause overthinking. But this mostly happen due to
- Stress: Extreme level of stress can lead to overthinking. where to try to solve a problem in perceived way.
- Perfectionism: The desire for perfect outcomes or situation can lead to excessive thinking on how to achieve them.
- Trauma or Past Experiences: Some negative experiences from past can lead a person to overthink a situation how to avoid it in future.
- Anxiety Disorders: People who suffer from anxiety disorders often find themselves trapped in cycles of overthinking. For instance, someone with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) might constantly worry about everyday situations, from work performance to personal relationships, despite there being no immediate threat or reason for concern.
Negative Impacts of Overthinking
Overthinking gives some harmful and negative impact in mind as well as health.
- Mental Health : Overthinking give an effect of anxiety, depression, and increase your stress levels.
- Physical Health: Overthinking impact on sleep, reduce energy ect.
- Relationships Issues : Overthinking may strain you personal as well as professional life.
- Decision-Making : Overthinking may give you take negative decision in life. Its reduce taking actions on problem rather only think of problems.this happens due to over analyzing every possible outcome.
Strategies to Stop Overthinking
Overthinking is an habit, and changing your habit can be a challenge.
But, with daily practice, you can train your brain to think differently. So I am sharing 4 ways to trick your brain to stop overthinking.
This techinque will work only if you apply in day today life. I have aslo apply this step in my life thats’s why I’m sharing it to you.
Recognize When You’re Lost in Thought [Self awareness and Identification]
Overthinking may become an habit that you don’t even know when you are start overthink thinking. So start trying to pay attention the way you think so you can become aware of your problem.
Stay focus on problem solving
Over thinking about your problem does isn’t helpful unless you start trying to take action on it. This step is connect to step one. You only need to only think of potential pitfalls of your plan that could help you perform better in the future.
Develop Mindfulness Skills
It might be impossible to recall yesterday or worry about tomorrow when you’re living in the present. Mindful make you more aware of here and now Just like any other skill, mindfulness takes practices until it becomes an habit, but over time, it can decrease overthinking problem. There are some books and apps available that will help you learn mindfulness skills.
Distraction
Sometimes trying to tell your brain to stop overthinking may lead to make overthinking problem serious. In my life if I have problem and I can’t find its solution quickly I have to distract myself from that problem. Then after sometime I was always able to find solution of that problem. So you can distract yourself by playing outdoor games, exercise, you can talk to your friend but the topic is complete different from your problem ect. This type of distraction may help you.
Conclusion
You can see there are steps you can reduce your overthinking problem overtime. There are others technique also that help to reduce overthinking
problem like create an hobby, yoga ect. But the solution i have wrote that help me a lot and it will also help you. So try to follow it ad you will see
a result yourself. Thank-you for reading.