Brainy Dose Presents:
10 Odd Things Overthinking Makes You Do
It’s safe to say that everybody overthinks sometimes.
Whether it’s worrying about improbable catastrophes or mulling over hypotheticals, we all spend
time thinking about things that probably shouldn’t occupy our minds.
But dwelling on things excessively and overthinking everything can become problematic.
This tendency is often tied to anxiety and depression, and you may not even realize you’re
doing it!
Nevertheless, overthinking can have a significant impact on how you engage with and experience
the world around you.
In this video, we explore the effects of this common behavior and how it can get the better
of you.
Number 1 - Spacing Out
Overthinking can make you feel like you’re in a daze.
It’s like your mind is on autopilot, and you’re not fully present in the moment.
When you’re constantly analyzing and over-analyzing, you can easily become distracted and lose
focus.
You might find yourself spacing out in the middle of conversations or zoning out when
you’re reading, working, or watching TV.
Next thing you know, you’ve missed out on important details or lost track entirely.
Number 2 - Asking The Same Questions Repeatedly
If you’re an overthinker, you likely find yourself asking the same question over and
over, even though you already know the answer.
That’s because overthinking can cause you to doubt and second-guess yourself, making
you feel like the answer has somehow changed.
And sometimes, this tendency comes across as interrogatory, since it can make others
feel like you’re questioning them, rather than just asking questions in general.
Number 3 - Apologizing for No Reason
Making mistakes is a natural part of being human.
But when you’re prone to overthinking, it can cause you to blow things out of proportion,
so they seem much bigger than they actually are.
It makes you feel like you’re constantly walking on eggshells.
You might find yourself apologizing for something that wasn’t even your fault, or worrying
that others will notice your mistake and be upset about it.
Number 4 - Obsessively Googling Things
You could be feeling sick, stressing about the weather, or planning a trip; whatever
it is, when you’re in the throes of an overthinking episode, you might find yourself compulsively
Googling things.
And while it can seem like searching for answers online is harmless, it can prove otherwise.
When you go looking for reassurance online, all too often what you get is more stress
and confusion instead of clarity because there are so many different perspectives and opinions.
It can be hard to draw conclusions.
And then what happens?
You start to overthink things even more!
Number 5 - Constantly Analyzing Social Interactions
Overthinking can make you feel like you’re on the outside looking in.
It’s not just that you’re analyzing your own behavior, but also the behavior of others.
You examine every interaction, wondering if you said the right thing and if others were
judging you.
As a matter of fact, you might overthink social interactions so much, that it makes it harder
for you to be sociable.
You’re so worried about what other people think of you, that it becomes hard to do anything
without getting anxious.
Number 6 - Overplanning
When you overthink things, you can end up overplanning like crazy.
You start imagining all sorts of scenarios in your head, and then you try to plan for
all of them.
Before you know it, you’ve got this super complicated plan that might be completely
unnecessary.
Or worse, you can’t seem to make up your mind, so you keep tweaking and adjusting.
You might even find yourself making plans for situations that are highly unlikely or
impossible.
All that planning just ends up being a big waste of time and energy.
Number 7 - Seeking Meaning in Everything You Experience
The act of overthinking can also cause you to read way too much into situations or events.
You might spend hours analyzing a text message, or wondering what someone meant by a certain
look they gave you.
It can feel like you’re constantly searching for answers to questions that may not even
exist.
Essentially, you’re looking for patterns and meanings where there’s no need for them.
You’re trying to make sense of things that don’t need to make sense, and it can lead
you down rabbit holes where you might create problems out of nothing.
Number 8 - Reliving Embarrassing Moments in Your Mind
Have you ever had an embarrassing moment that you just can’t seem to forget?
Well, overthinking can make it even worse!
When you overthink something, you focus on all the things that went wrong and all the
things you wish you had done differently.
This can cause you to feel embarrassed and ashamed, even long after the event has passed.
It’s like you’re stuck on a hamster wheel of regret and self-consciousness.
Number 9 - Overexplaining
When you have a tendency to overthink, it’s easy to assume that you’re not being clear
enough or that the other person might misinterpret what you’re saying.
This can cause you to go into too much detail or to repeat yourself multiple times.
You feel like there’s more and more to say, even though the other person probably gets
it by now.
The problem is that this is not only annoying, but it can make people feel like the conversation
isn’t going anywhere.
Like there’s just no end in sight.
Number 10 - Avoiding Things
Overthinking often leads to avoidance, and that can be a real buzzkill in both your personal
and professional life.
For instance, if you’re offered a new job opportunity, you might start to overthink
it and wonder if you’re really qualified for it.
You begin to doubt your abilities and question whether you should take the job at all.
Similarly, if you’re invited to a party, you might start to overthink it and worry
about whether you’ll know anyone there or if you’ll be able to make conversation.
You imagine all sorts of worst-case scenarios and end up doing nothing.
At the end of the day, overthinking can make you feel stressed and anxious, and mess with
your ability to focus on other things.
That’s why it’s important to recognize when you’re engaging in this behavior and
take steps to manage it before it spirals out of control.
It takes some time and practice to break free from the cycle of overthinking; but with patience
and persistence, you can learn to develop a more mindful and present approach to life.
For some practical tips and strategies for overcoming overthinking and living a more
fulfilling life, check out this video on how to stop worrying and start living.
You’ll find the link in the description below.
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