Thinking too much about past events, worrying about what to do next, and imagining the worst-case scenario in life can be signs of overthinking. This habit of overthinking is quite tiring, and indeed difficult to get rid of.
The brain is an extraordinary organ that can be capable of making conscious and subconscious decisions more than 35,000 times per day. However, if you are not careful in analyzing the questions that enter your brain, then you may experience excessive worry or also known as overthinking.
For example, you are constantly thinking about the simple failure in which you did during your meeting with clients two days ago, or you may be overly preoccupied thinking about the worst possible outcome of the job interview, even though it hasn’t happened yet. Keep in mind that overthinking is not only related to work, even simple things such as worrying that you have not found any AC servicing Singapore for your home can also disturb your thoughts and make you feel constant worry
In other words, overthinking is a disturbing negative thought. If left unchecked, overthinking can be bad for your health.
What Are the Signs of Overthinking?
Studies show that constantly thinking about the same thing can increase your risk of developing mental disorders, such as frustration and depression. Therefore, understanding what are the signs of overthinking, so you are not shackled in your own thoughts can do wonders for your wellbeing.
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Your mind is not focused on the solutions
It should be understood that overthinking is different from problem-solving. Overthinking only focuses on thinking about the problems, while problem-solving is where you will try to find solutions to the problems you are experiencing. So, if you constantly think about the problem without the solution, this is a sign of you experiencing overthinking.
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There is an excessive worry
When worries arise and you seem to be unable to control your train of thought, this is the ultimate sign of overthinking. Even when you want to sleep, your brain keeps replaying scenarios in your head, which causes images of bad things to come back. Therefore, overthinking can make it difficult for you to fall asleep and will eventually reduce your sleep quality.
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Difficulty in making decisions
Research shows that thinking too long can make it difficult for someone to make a decision. Overthinking can make you doubt everything, from choosing what clothes to wear, which work to take first, even to what food you want to eat. Even though it looks trivial, this little thing that you worry about too much will become a big problem in the future. So, when you spend more time thinking and it’s hard to make a decision, this is one of the signs of overthinking!
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Unable to control your thoughts
Another ultimate sign of overthinking is that you think about the same thing over and over again, whether it’s a past incident or an image of something bad that’s about to happen. These thoughts can appear continuously because you are unable to control them. If this continues to happen, then your stress level can spike-up and your mental health will eventually be disturbed.
What Are the Impact of Overthinking on Your Health?
Protracted overthinking can harm your health, both physically and psychologically. The following are some of the possible effects of overthinking:
- Feeling uneasy
- Easily tired
- Find hard to concentrate
- Unable to sleep
- Stress
- Anxiety disorder
- Depression
- Easy to feel guilty
To prevent its impact, you must recognize the signs of overthinking and understand what to do to overcome these trains of thought. Make sure you know what things usually trigger you from experiencing overthinking.
For example, thinking too much about the future is one of the things that can trigger you to experience overthinking, then you should try not to do that especially when you are in a bad mood or are not in your best condition. Try not to dive too much into bad things that are not necessarily happening, that are beyond your control.
Apart from knowing the triggers, several things can help you overcome overthinking, including:
- Consider how things are going right, don’t think about the possibility of going wrong
- Arrange for an alternative plan if the situation and conditions do not allow you to carry out the original plan
- Keep your priorities in mind, so it doesn’t take too long to make a decision
- Determine how long it will take you to find a solution or make a decision
- Divert your mind by doing fun things, like reading a book, meditating, exercising, or going for a walk
Remember that not everything has to be planned out and not everything can be in your control. Try to stay away from all negative thoughts, and enjoy the life you are currently living.
