Overthinking, also called ruminating or excessive worry, is a tendency to dwell on or dissect thoughts, problems, or scenarios—often leading to heightened anxiety, self-doubt, or mental exhaustion.
Key Points:
- Forms of Overthinking:
- Rumination: Repeatedly analyzing the same thoughts, often around past mistakes or regrets.
- Worry: Futuristic thinking about potential negative outcomes.
- Consequences: Insomnia, inability to make decisions, increased stress, and risk for depression or anxiety disorders.
- Management: Mindfulness techniques, journaling to structure thoughts, time-limited “worry periods,” therapy (CBT, DBT) targeting cognitive flexibility.
