{"id":6124,"date":"2022-05-13T12:12:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-13T12:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bloomsoup.com\/?p=6124"},"modified":"2022-05-13T12:12:54","modified_gmt":"2022-05-13T12:12:54","slug":"overthinking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bloomsoup.com\/overthinking\/","title":{"rendered":"A Beginner’s Guide to Overthinking"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you’ve ever been so wrapped up in your own thoughts that it feels like you’re wading through cognitive treacle, you might be suffering from overthinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps you endlessly evaluate options in your head, simply unable to make decisions or continuously replay worst-case scenarios in an attempt to protect yourself from unpleasant outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of your specific situation, overthinking can be a debilitating psychological issue, adversely affecting your ability to stay present and enjoy life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we’ll dive into the topic and provide some suggestions for counteracting this mental monster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Definition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Overthinking is the act of over-analyzing a topic or problem to the point that it interferes with daily life.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can often lead to rumination, which is when someone fixates on negative thoughts or emotions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can also cause distress, anxiety, and intrusive thoughts, leading to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as avoidance, procrastination, and self-medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People who overthink often have difficulty making decisions, constantly second-guessing themselves, while suffering from perfectionism and trouble finishing tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If left unchecked, this recursive tendency can have a significant impact on mental health, as we’ll see shortly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What causes overthinking?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are various causes of the condition, but some of the most common include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rumination (constantly focusing on negative thoughts)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rumination<\/a> is a form of repetitive thinking that is often focused on negative emotions and experiences. It can involve obsessing over past mistakes, rehashing arguments, or dwelling on unhappy events. Rumination has been linked to a number of mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. In addition, it can interfere with problem-solving and make it difficult to concentrate on other tasks. Rumination is a destructive habit that can trap people in a negative spiral of thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perfectionism (striving for unattainable standards)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Perfectionism is a tendency or personality trait characterized by striving for flawlessness and setting excessively high standards of performance, accompanied by overly critical self-evaluations. They often have difficulty accepting compliments and may also be unable to relax or take pleasure in their accomplishments, with their constant focus on the next goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Worry (fearing the worst will happen)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Worry and fear are both normal emotions that can help us deal with potentially dangerous situations. However, when these emotions become chronic, they can interfere with our daily lives. People who worry excessively often think about the worst possible outcome of a situation and dwell on negative possibilities. This can lead to feelings of anxiety and despair, and make it difficult to concentrate or enjoy activities. Fear, on the other hand, is usually more focused on a specific threat. It is a natural response that helps us protect ourselves from danger. However, when fear becomes excessive, it can turn into anxiety or phobias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overthinking symptoms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Those suffering from this tendency will often be aware of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If they’re anything like me, they’ll become incredibly frustrated with themselves when they’re over-analyzing and unable to make a simple decision. And if not, friends and family will likely point it out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some common symptoms of overthinking include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n