Fight Overthinking!

I was having my Iced Latte the other day, checking out my notifications on my phone, where I suddenly received an email regarding a new psychological report talking about Overthinking, its symptoms and how to fight it.

I felt attached. I have always knew that I had a similar issue but couldn’t define it properly. I clicked immediately on this email, and started reading the article.

I felt happy, I felt relieved. I felt like I finally found my diagnose. I felt like I just had a free therapy session.

I felt like I got the chance to wire two cables that have been disconnected a long time ago, that I was looking for a way to wire them my whole life.

relief…

Well, talking from experience; overthinking means running around in circles non-stop. It is something that leaves you awake through the night thinking of things with no matter, remembering shameful situations from the past, punishing yourself over mistakes that happened a very long time ago that don’t mean anything now, or simply trying to think of a decision that you end up not making it eventually!

Sometimes, you decide to achieve certain thing the next day! it might not be that big, but you get trapped in this loop where you think of it a lot to the limit that you just can't go to sleep that night!

You just lose rest!

Overthinking, makes you reach a point where you feel ache in your head, like some metallic tool trying to squeeze your head bone and break it. It is hard and it is exhausting!

In some cases, you reach a point where you start questioning every single word you utter, while having your tea at the coffee house with your friends, enjoying your time together. (well, not you apparently!).

It makes you feel like there is something wrong with the way you talk, the way you live through every second of your life, because you simply question every moment of it. You literally live inside a shell of self-doubt.

You just doubt your way of thinking.

You question how bad and stupid you looked in front of people the other day saying that specific word. (which is a very normal thing to be said in that situation).

It makes you less powerful around people, even in front of the closest people to you because you are not decisive about what you think!

Overthinking, makes you lose your right to live a normal life or simply the right to calm yourself after a fight, because you will be thinking of it literally in circles NON-STOP. Until you reach a point where you miss out all the beautiful and peaceful moments that might have come long time after.

Overthinking, is a disease that ruins your brain’s cells over time. It simply kills your creativity!

Moreover, when you have this chronic disorder, you need to take action in your life. because it will not allow your body to function as normal as it should be. You will keep it in a constant exhausting state of living.

How to know that you are living in such circle?

a. Insomnia!

no matter how you try to manage your sleeping schedule, trying to sleep early and wakeup early in order to get your tasks done becomes a dream to you! you will always find yourself lost inside a huge pile of thoughts and each thought will be followed by its own series of smaller fractions of thoughts that will never set you free.

b. You can't get over a situation, normally!

you might go through a simple situation that doesn't carry a value, but it won't be as simple as it actually is to you. You will live it over and over again inside your head. You will be thinking of it constantly and inspect every tiny detail of it.

c. You are not present!

when you are around people, you don't enjoy your time, or you don't benefit from this time of value, because you are overthinking everything you do and say around them. because to you, you might have said something wrong that will make you appear in a bad image in front of them.

In sum, you don't live in the present, you live inside your head.

d. You find it difficult making decisions!

you take a very long time to make a decision whether while shopping, making an order at the restaurant or simply closing a deal! and you might even not make it at all! because you are not decisive! you question every thought, you think it might not be the right thing to do!

Fight it!

1. Write down all the feelings and thoughts you have before going to bed at night or first thing in the morning. Make it a daily habit and reform these negative ideas into something positive that will bring positive outcomes into your life.
2. Meditate! it is always the key for relaxation! meditate your worries and thoughts away. it always lowers the rate of anxiety.
3. When you feel like you are stuck inside an idea over and over that you can’t get out of, think of a totally different one right away. Cut the thread and take control of your self-talk. take yourself out of the loop.
4. Ask yourself, what is the probability that what i’m scared of will actually happen? “ Just rephrase the issue to reflect the positive outcome you’re looking for” . So, instead of “ I’m stuck in my career,” rephrase it into “ I want a job where I feel more engaged.” Then make a plan to expand your skills. (according to Nolen-Hoeksema a professor of Psychology at Yale University)
5. don’t waste your moments thinking of things that carry no value anymore, and things that are in the past now. Grant your precious time to cultivate skills in your days in order to achieve your goals.
6. believe that you are good and clever enough that you are capable to make that decision. don't doubt yourself! Talk good to yourself, you are not your enemy!

As Steve Maraboli says,

“You must learn to let go. Release the stress. You were never in control anyway.”

― in “ Life, the Truth, and Being Free”

As well as;

“I promise you nothing is as chaotic as it seems. Nothing is worth diminishing your health. Nothing is worth poisoning yourself into stress, anxiety, and fear.”

― in “ Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience.

Be happy and trust yourself! You are your best friend!