10 Odd Things Overthinking Makes You Do (2023)

FAQs

What can overthinking cause? ›

Overthinking can create an endless cycle of stress and worry, which can ultimately cause you to feel less prepared, motivated, and confident. It can also play a role in mental health issues like anxiety and depression, so it is important to find ways to break out of such destructive thought patterns.

Overthinking is when your thoughts and worries circle in an endless loop. Instead of preparing you for next steps, overthinking usually leads to inaction because it causes you to become overwhelmed by fear. Overthinking can be an early indicator or symptom of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions.

The two types of overthinking are rumination (which involves rehashing past events) and worrying (or hyperfocusing on an anxious concern about the future).

In 2 Corinthians 10:5, the apostle Paul writes: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” It's by taking every one of your thoughts captive that you can fight off overthinking and find peace of mind.

Overthinking can have a serious impact on our mental health, especially when conditioned by negative self-talk. Research has linked rumination, or the practice of repeatedly thinking about problems, to an increased risk of developing depression and anxiety.

Overthinking often involves ruminating about the past and worrying about the future. Overthinking isn't the same as healthy problem-solving. Problem-solving consists of thinking about a difficult situation when necessary. Overthinking, on the other hand, involves dwelling on the problem.

On the other hand, highly intelligent people might spend more time worrying because they have extensive knowledge of potential threats and want to prepare for every possibility. This worry might involve brainstorming plans to handle the situation or thinking of ways to avoid trouble.

Often overthinking can be the result of feeling strong emotions of fear, panic, anger, excessive worry, etc. Identifying and challenging these feelings and thoughts may be an effective place to start. Two of these effective skills are identifying emotions and checking the facts.

INFP and INFJ: The Overthinkers

Psychology Today defines overthinking as “an excessive tendency to monitor, evaluate, and attempt to control all types of thought,” something this INFJ knows all too well.

What is constant overthinking called? ›

Are you always waiting for disaster to strike or excessively worried about things such as health, money, family, work, or school? If so, you may have a type of anxiety disorder called generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). GAD can make daily life feel like a constant state of worry, fear, and dread.

Deep thought is solution-focused. It aims to solve problems and is purposeful. Overthinking, on the other hand, is open-ended, circular and doesn't provide useful insights. For example, being preoccupied with what your colleagues think of you does nothing to move you ahead.

While overthinking itself is not a mental illness, it is associated with conditions including depression, anxiety, eating disorders and substance use disorders. Rumination can be common in people who have chronic pain and chronic illness as well, taking the form of negative thoughts about that pain and healing from it.

However, there are times when this very power becomes a curse. It's called overthinking and is characterised by too many thoughts about something for a prolonged period of time. It often ends up draining us mentally and the fear that takes over reduces our ability to make sound decisions.

The moment spiritual people start overthinking is the same moment they start blocking God's voice and guidance into the things he has prepared. If overthinking is keeping you from doing something else you ought to be doing, then you're overthinking.

It's so important to remember that God knows every thought and instinct of our hearts! He alone can judge our intentions, and He alone can righteously convict or soothe our souls when we're overthinking.

Most people worry or indulge in negative thinking from time-to-time. Life has difficult moments, and as a result, we experience emotional ups and downs. For some people, this ordinary thought process becomes toxic. Thoughts become ruminations, replaying and causing stress and emotional turmoil.

Overthinking is commonly associated with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), says Duke. GAD is characterized by the tendency to worry excessively about several things. “Someone can develop GAD due to their genes. Or it could be personality factors like the inability to tolerate uncertainty in life.

Do overthinkers succeed in life? ›

Overthinking rarely leads to positive outcomes. Knowing its costs should spur you to do something about it, if you want more success. Here are five reasons why overthinking is hurting your success, which will also prevent you from having the lifestyle you wish for. It reduces your ability to solve problems effectively.

Replaying your mistakes in your mind. Rehashing challenging or uncomfortable conversations. Fixating on things you can't control, change or improve. Imagining the worst-case scenario or outcome.

Overthinking people can express themselves openly and honestly to a partner who is understanding, caring, and open to hearing their truth.

It involves looking around your environment to identify three objects and three sounds, then moving three body parts. Many people find this strategy helps focus and ground them when anxiety overwhelms them.

Even though the gifted are no more susceptible to mental illness than anyone else, some gifted children and teens struggle with overthinking, worry, or cautious alertness. Their nervous system seems wired for heightened reactivity. For some, obsessive thinking transitions into anxiety.

The good news is that you weren't born an overthinker. Overthinking is the result of one fact of human existence: we all have patterns to our behavior. These patterns, good and bad, develop over time based on life experiences.

What drives this is underlying anxiety. Common forms include worrying, perfectionism, struggle with making decisions, and excessive control over yourself and others. Keys to coping include getting your rational brain online, using your gut reactions as important information, and taking acceptable risks.

As might be expected, the Extraverted (E) and Introverted (I) traits make a difference when it comes to where and when people cry. While most survey respondents, regardless of personality traits, say they prefer to cry when they're alone, Introverts are more likely than Extraverts to say so.

What is the most intimidating personality type? ›

Thanks to their blunt and serious mannerisms, INTJs are also one of the personality types most likely to be branded intimidating. Unlike charismatic ENTJs, INTJs tend to be reserved and distant.

Although there are positive traits of an overthinker, such as patience, commitment, dedication, drive, and passion, overthinking also promotes stress, anxiety, self-consciousness, and lack of self-confidence. It can be difficult to find any mental peace when you're thinking about every situation.

Do you replay past situations over and over again, plagued by 'what ifs' or regrets, or spend a lot of time worrying about an event in the future – even an insignificant or imagined one? – You might be an overthinker. Simply put, it's the act of giving a thought far too much time and attention.

One of the horrible hallmarks of any type of anxiety disorder is the tendency to overthink everything. The anxious brain is hypervigilant, always on the lookout for anything it perceives to be dangerous or worrisome.

Overthinking can be an all-natural process, it can also be the result if the creative and overly active ADHD brain. While most believe overthinking to be a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder, it' actually relates more to ADHD.

Overthinking may be a common mental health issue that may negatively affect your emotional and physical wellbeing. When you become excessively preoccupied with your thoughts, it may lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress. This might also manifest as physical problems such as headaches and stomach upset.

You enjoy thinking about complex topics.

Deep thinkers often like to challenge themselves by thinking about things that are complicated. They want to understand the underlying meaning behind things, and they enjoy solving problems.

Repetitive fear about saying the wrong thing can be an OCD-related fear, involving concerns about saying something that is inappropriate, embarrassing, or hurtful. This OCD-related fear is often part of the larger subtype of Harm OCD.

How do you get something off your mind that is bothering you? ›

Self-confident individuals are decisive and make decisions based upon what they think is the best option and avoid overthinking.

"Studies show that ruminating on stressful events can, over time, lead to anxiety and depression," warns Dr. Fowler. "From a mental health standpoint, anxiety can affect your ability to cope with everyday stressors, and depression results in sadness, loneliness and feelings of emptiness."

Yes, anxiety can cause nausea and other gastrointestinal problems. Outside of your brain, your digestive system contains the second largest number of nerves in your body. Some scientists even call your gut your "second brain."

While most people associate ADHD with hyperactivity and impulsivity, it can also manifest in more subtle ways, such as through intrusive thoughts and overthinking.

Cortisol is the main villain who creates unhealthy overthinking and is released in the hypothalamus – a region very near to the centre of your brain.

Overthinkers often have very effective communication skills. This is because we think through what we want to say and how we want to say it. This leads to more empathetic communication, because we're able to understand and consider the perspectives of others. For me, this is a real strength and something I cherish.

Overthinking can tamper with our ability to think properly and trap us in a cycle of negative thoughts that interfere with our ability to cope with stressors. In life, it can be necessary for us to re-evaluate and re-think an event to understand it completely and make the best possible decision.

Thinking, overthinking, vague thoughts, worries, and specific thoughts are all symptoms of anxiety disorder. Of course, many other mental health disorders could be causing someone to overthink. Only a mental health professional can give you an accurate diagnosis and start you on the best treatment plan.

No, and it often makes symptoms of anxiety worse. Adderall is not an anti-anxiety medication but rather a stimulant that boosts a person's attention span, motivation and energy.

Is Overthinking Genetically inherited? ›

Most experts agree that certain anxiety disorders, which are often linked to overthinking, have a genetic component, but are also influenced by environment. You may be an overthinker because you inherited it genetically – or because you were raised by someone who created an environment of anxiety or stress.

People with ADHD will have at least two or three of the following challenges: difficulty staying on task, paying attention, daydreaming or tuning out, organizational issues, and hyper-focus, which causes us to lose track of time.

Overthinking is caused due to various reasons like fear, intolerance to uncertainty, trauma, or perfectionism. Overthinking can also be a symptom of already existing mental health conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, or depression.

Overthinking is a personality trait that can occur to people with any level of intelligence. Is thinking too much a sign of intelligence? No. It is often the sign of an emotional problem, an insecurity or obsession.