Overthinking – do we actually think about it? 

Who would have thought that there’d ever be such a thing as too much thinking? 

If you are an overthinker like me, don’t be scared and don’t listen to the people that tell you it needs to be ‘fixed’. You are not broken. It may not be something that everyone does, but that in no way means that there is something wrong with you. It’s a very natural response, one that I like to think of as ‘prepping for panic’. It’s not ideal, obviously, but it’s like a reflex, you can’t always control it. But what we can do is try to manage it, and slowly reduce its occurrence and effect. I’m a lifelong overthinker and have had to talk myself down more times than I can count. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. It just means that I have had to try harder than most to handle it. Not letting it take over is tiring, but we don’t really have any other options now do we? 

You just need methods to help keep you grounded and living the life you have, rather than constantly ruminating. Since I have struggled with this my entire life (and still do), I’m always finding new ways to deal with it. I’ve started to listen to myself, both mind and body, to find out what will work for me in that moment. It won’t be the same thing every time, just as the triggers are different, the methods might be different too. 

Here are 5 things that work for me: 

1. Arts and Crafts and Puzzles

Everything from painting, to embroidery, to 3000 piece puzzles. Anything that results in a creation helps direct my focus away from rumination. With the mind being a mess of negative thoughts, creative distractions are what I need to prove to myself that whilst the struggle may be real, it doesn’t need to take over. You can set aside those thoughts and put your energy into creating something beautiful. 

2. Binge watching favourite TV shows 

When I’m feeling particularly down, and just not in the right headspace to be around people or do anything that requires focus, I like to binge watch the shows I love. Even just having them in the background to fill the silence takes my mind off whatever negativity is floating around my head. It may not be the most productive, but if I’m at this stage of overthinking, productivity isn’t at the forefront of my mind, getting through the process is, and so I’m going to do whatever it is I need to make that happen. 

3. Hanging out with friends

This is very important for when I need support and help to pull me back from the ledge that I know I’m standing on in my head. Being around people who get me and love me, flaws and all, is exactly what I need to prevent a full on spiral. Talking, venting and just laughing takes the weight off, and sometimes gives a fresh perspective. To also know that you’re not alone makes all the difference. Laughter is the best medicine after all, so we have to use it.

4. Reorganising

When my mind is filled with organised chaos, reorganising my tangible life gives me the feeling of a little accomplishment. Just creating a neat and tidy space for me to sit and deal with the thoughts in my head. Once there isn’t stuff literally everywhere, I then also use this newly spacious environment to stretch or meditate.

5. This – the writing 

Whilst this venture is a new addition to my armoury, it’s no stranger to me. For years I’ve turned to writing as an outlet for all the negativity bottled up inside. Writing things down gets them out of my head and takes the weight off. When reading it back to myself it can highlight how outrageous it might be and gives me the ability to move on from it. 

Imagine you are standing inside a bubble, and that bubble is your mind. Overthinking is like picking up a stick and waving it around. It’s just going to hit the sides of the bubble, and that’s just going to hurt. Put it down and let it slide away. Your body and mind should be your protected spaces, no one else will protect them, that’s your job.