Overthinking or rumination not only affects your peace of mind but increases your chances of getting depression and anxiety.
Key takeaways: Overthinking is when you dwell on or worry about the same thing repeatedly. People who overthink can be paralyzed by their worries and may struggle to make decisions or take action. Overthinking can be caused by — and contribute to — depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders.
This constant loop of worry and analyzing can be taxing on the mind and body. Overthinking has been linked to physical health issues such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic fatigue, insomnia and sleep disruption.
Research shows that overthinking is prevalent among young (25-35-year-olds) and middle-aged adults (45-55-year- olds). Overthinking tends to be worse among women. And too much thinking can lead to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, emotional distress, and self-destructive behaviours.
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.
An overthinking mind tends to focus on the negative, sabotaging happy thoughts and keeping your mind in a constant state of negativity. When your happiness wanes, it affects your mental health and your productivity.
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.
They tend to be good at problem-solving and have a high IQ. Additionally, overthinkers are often creative and have a lot of great ideas. They also tend to be good at critical thinking and analyzing situations. Another positive effect of being an overthinker is that they are usually successful in life.
The causes of catastrophic thinking can depend on the person, but the basic answer is often some sort of anxiety-related condition. This may include Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which can cause obtrusive worrying about worst-case scenarios.
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.
Often overthinking is a byproduct of anxiety or depression. If this is the case, you can treat your anxiety or depression to reduce overthinking. You may also find that overthinking only materializes when you need to make a tough life decision or are dealing with your insecurities.
Overthinking is a coping strategy many of us fall into. Rather than take a risk or make a decision, it feels much safer and more comfortable to think through as many possible scenarios as we can.
Relationships are hard, and relationships with overthinkers are even more incredibly hard. Overthinking may appear to be a simple problem, but it is far from it. Overthinkers may be difficult to date, but that doesn't make them bad people. However, a relationship with them is fraught with danger.
It's a common stereotype that is often humoured, but it turns out there is actually scientific backing to it. A study reported in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease has confirmed that women overthink more than men do, due to their brains having more activity.
Research: Careers that involve research, such as scientific research or market research, may be well-suited for overthinkers as they involve a lot of analysis, critical thinking and attention to detail. Writing: Careers that involve writing, such as journalism, copywriting, or technical writing, may also be well.
Hyper-Rationality is a trauma response and coping strategy. Overthinking, over-analyzing, and over-rationalizing are coping strategies that we learned early on to help us make sense of an unpredictable environment that at some point made us feel unsafe.
Thinking excessively does not have any impact on the ridges and grooves so it does not reduce intelligence. However, a person might seem unintelligent if their ability to think properly is hampered. Even if one thinks too much, they will be fine as long as their thoughts remain consistent.
Overthinking and worrying is common with highly sensitive people. You notice every detail and overthink what should be a simple decision, like where to go for lunch. You are prone to getting stuck in the rehashing of the “what-if” rut.
Low self-confidence is perhaps one of the most common causes of overthinking and has the ability to further diminish self-worth. Overthinking as a result of attempting to self-protect can often feel like our own personal mental hideaway.
Studies have also found that higher IQ is associated with more mental illness, including depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.