How Can I Stop Overthinking?

Reading Time: 4 minutes

First published: 22 January 2023 @ 6:00 pm

Human brains are hardwired to overthink. It’s a natural process that helps us think through problems and come up with solutions.

However, overthinking can have negative effects if it becomes a habit. You may need to find ways to stop overthinking, so you can live a more productive and stress-free life.

So now, let’s take a look at some types and ways to help you overcome overthinking.

Types of Overthinking

There are different types of overthinking that people commonly experience. Many people who suffer from them have mental distortions, or are constantly thinking in a way that is wrong.

Overgeneralizing

This type of overthinking happens when you expect something to happen in the future, based on a single event or other event in the past.

You will not accept the fact that many outcomes are possible to happen, and only assume that it is “always” or “never” happen.

When you try to generalize one past event to all future events, it can cause you to overthink and worry excessively about things that might not happen.

All-or-Nothing Thinking

This all-or-nothing thinking is as though you only see things as if they are either black or white.

You are most likely to think about a situation very narrowly and not think about the positive or negative aspects.

You will consider it as if it was either a complete success or a complete failure.

Catastrophizing

This type of overthinking involves something that is worse than it is.

For instance, you might think that a mistake you made will have huge consequences or that an event will have a devastating impact.

This worst-case scenario can lead to overreactions and excessive worry.

How Can I Stop Overthinking?

1. Recognize the Signs of Overthinking

If you feel unpleasant symptoms such as feeling stressed, overworked, or anxious, it is important to take action.

Try to identify the thoughts that are driving these feelings, and try to challenge them.

If you can identify the thoughts that are causing you stress, you can start to work on challenging them.

Click the next page to learn more about how to stop overthinking!