Have you ever replayed a certain citation that did not easily get out of your mind? Thinking something again is not an unusual thing. However, if the thoughts are caught in a negative loop, you might be overthinking. In many cases, thinking thoroughly might be useful, in case of you thinking about the worst case scenario and being ready for the solutions. Overthinking, on the other hand, often makes things complicated.
Then exactly what is overthinking? It is also called rumination, which is a repetitive negative thinking. Overthinking is different from prolonged thinking, as overthinking, or rumination, sometimes makes you unable to concentrate on any other thing. You might think that overthinking could be a part of a mental illness, while, in reality, overthinking comes from negative emotions and is not a mental illness. This means that if you spend too much time thinking about a terrifying memory, you might end up overthinking or get depressed.
Generally, there are four types of overthinking. First, all or nothing overthinking is when you are seeing only the extremes in a situation, only thinking success for failure. Second, catastrophizing is when you can only see the worst scenario. Third, generalizing is when you base your outlook on a single event in the past, such as believing you will fail every test you take due to a minor failure even though you have scored high on most of the tests. Lastly, perfectionism is a set of high expectations for yourself that become destructive.
What would be the causes for overthinking? There are some commonly known reasons, including constantly looking out for threats even when there is nothing wrong with the strategy itself, seeking answers with reassurance, and excessive planning. In these cases, spending too much time analyzing problems and dilemmas may lead to a bigger loss.
What are the ways to stop overthinking? Unfortunately, there is no single method to stop overthinking. Still, it is said that meditation, practicing mindfulness, and self-care can help control overthinking. This prevents people from continuing destructive thought patterns and useless concerns.
By. Jeonghwa Oh
References
https://www.talkiatry.com/blog/why-do-i-overthink-everything
https://psyche.co/guides/how-to-stop-overthinking-with-help-from-metacognitive-strategies
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