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How do I stop overthinking and depressed?

How do I stop overthinking and depressed?

Overthinkers are troubled by disturbing thoughts—whether they’re beating themselves up over a mistake they made yesterday or worrying about how they’ll succeed tomorrow—and their inability to get out of their own heads leaves them in a condition of perpetual anguish.

While everyone overthinks things now and again, some people just can’t seem to stop themselves from thinking. Ruminating and worrying are two damaging thought processes in their inner monologue.

Rehashing the past is what ruminating entails:

I shouldn’t have raised my hand in today’s meeting. Everyone looked at me as if I were a moron.

I could have stayed at my previous work. I would have been happier if I had simply stayed there.

My parents always told me that I wouldn’t amount to anything. They were correct.

Worrying entails making pessimistic, often disastrous, predictions about the future:

When I deliver that presentation tomorrow, I’m going to disgrace myself. My hands will tremble, my face will flush, and everyone will notice that I am inept.

I’m never going to be promoted. It makes no difference what I do. It will not take place.

My spouse will find someone who is better than me. I’m going to be divorced and alone in the end.

Overthinkers don’t only think about their life with words. They also bring up images from time to time. They may imagine driving off the road or watching a terrible occurrence play out in their heads like a movie. In any case, their proclivity for overthinking everything prevents them from achieving something useful.

Overthinking Is Dangerous

Thinking too much about things isn’t simply inconvenient; it can also be harmful to your health. According to research, concentrating on your flaws, mistakes, and difficulties raises your chance of mental illness. And as your mental health deteriorates, your proclivity to ruminate rises, creating a difficult-to-break vicious cycle.

Overthinking has also been linked to substantial emotional suffering in studies. To cope with their anxiety, many overthinkers turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms like alcohol or food.

If you’re an overthinker, you’re probably already aware that your mind won’t shut down and you can’t sleep. Rumination and concern are linked to fewer hours of sleep and poorer sleep quality, according to studies.

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How to Refrain From Overthinking

It’s easier said than done to put an end to rehashing, second-guessing, and terrible forecasts. You may, however, minimize your negative thought habits with consistent practice:

Recognize when you’re overthinking things

The first step in putting an end to overthinking is to become aware of the problem. Begin to pay attention to how you think. Recognize that your thoughts aren’t useful if you find yourself rehashing events in your mind or fretting about things you can’t control.

Your Thoughts Should Be Challenged

It’s all too easy to get caught up in negative thinking. Accept that your ideas may be exaggeratedly negative before you determine that calling in sick will get you fired or that forgetting one deadline will cause you to become homeless. Learn to spot and correct thinking flaws before they send you into a tailspin.

Maintain an active problem-solving mindset

It is not beneficial to dwell on your issues, but it is beneficial to seek solutions. Consider what actions you can take to learn from a mistake or avoid an issue in the future. Rather than wondering why something happened, consider what you can do about it.

Set aside time for introspection

Long durations of meditation on problems are ineffective, yet brief reflection can be beneficial. For example, considering how you could do things differently or identifying potential problems in a plan can help you do better in the future. Make 20 minutes of “thinking time” a part of your everyday routine. Allow yourself to worry, ruminate, or mull about whatever you like during this time. When the timer goes off, switch to something more useful. Remind yourself that you’ll think about it later if you find yourself overthinking things outside of your allotted time.

Mindfulness is a good thing to do

When you’re living in the moment, it’s impossible to dwell on the past or to be concerned about the future. Make a commitment to becoming more aware of the present moment. Mindfulness, like any other skill, requires practice, but it can help to reduce overthinking over time.

Switch to another channel

It’s possible that telling yourself to quit thinking about something will have the opposite effect. The more you try to keep the thought from entering your mind, the more likely it will return. The best technique to change the channel is to engage in an activity. Exercise, participate in a conversation about something completely different, or start working on a project to keep your mind from racing with unpleasant thoughts.

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Oklahoma City, OK 73120
(405) 921-7776
https://www.newvisioncounseling.org
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