The Weight of Thoughts: Why We Overthink and How to Cope?

Nowadays, overthinking has become a crucial problem in daily life. But what is the exact meaning, and why do we feel this way? In this blog, I will explain it all, including how to deal with it.

We all think without even noticing throughout the day, as it is in our nature. While making decisions about the future or even rethinking the past, it is impossible to quiet our brains. Unfortunately,  at some point our thoughts start finding their own way unconsciously. These thoughts may haunt you and make you feel drowned if you don’t know how to deal with them. It becomes an inevitable cycle, and this is called “overthinking”. This doesn’t mean that thinking leads us down wrong paths. There is actually a slight difference between thinking and overthinking. The main part is that overthinking is the point where our thoughts start to fatigue us.

To make it clear, assume that you failed in an exam. A healthy thinking mind thinks that some topics weren’t understood enough and tries its best to be better next time. On the other hand, an overthinking mind would look for the problem in itself, such as not being clever enough. As you can see approaches in both cases are different. A healthy mind is more realistic and solution-oriented, while an overthinker makes everything more complicated by thinking about all the negative scenarios.

But why do we feel this way? One of the main reasons is the desire to control. We believe that we can handle everything. However, sometimes going with the flow can be a better option. People don’t really love the idea of “uncertainity” which is why we always try to predict what will happen next. Other than that, our regrets from the past can be a trigger too. We always wish to never say that word, which becomes a thought cycle in our brain. Perfectionism lies in the background of these situations. However, we have to face the fact that we are all human and not being perfect is in our nature.

Even though it seems harmless at first glance, it has a huge impact on our psychology. Thinking about every single move reaches a certain point where you can’t handle anymore. This overloading causes mental fatigue, increases your stress levels, and might even affect your physical health as well. Continually comparing your life with other people you see online can lead to a lack of confidence. All these effects can be seen as small, but when they are integrated it can cause a depression. Among all of these, the most important is that it prevents people from living in the moment.

It can seem hard to cope with, but there are some ways. Writing your thoughts on a piece of paper would let us look at the point where we are from a different view. Asking ourselves, “Does it really matter?” might help us clear our minds. Focusing on other hobbies such as painting, playing an instrument, or reading a book can also help us get away from this cycle. What really matters in this journey is to remember that we aren’t perfect and it is normal.

In conclusion, overthinking is not something that can disappear, and we have to learn how to live with it. Remember that overthinking thrives on those who have nothing to do other than sit alone with their thoughts. The aim of this process is not to silence your mind but to manage it. By following all these requirements, it is possible to live in the moment peacefully with our thoughts.