What Is Overthinking?

Thanks to our advanced cognitive features, we can perceive and make sense of our own experiences and interactions with the environment and produce appropriate responses.  However, the same cognitive capacity can sometimes serve to think in extreme detail about our experiences and the behavior of the people around us.  In this way of thinking, which mostly occurs as an irresistible impulse, people can think for a long time and analyze their negative experiences of the past and present, even if they do not want to.  They can constantly design negative scenarios for the future in their minds.  As a result, decision-making processes and mood can be adversely affected.

How do we know when we think too deeply?

From time to time each of us may think about our own decisions, actions, feelings and thoughts, or the words and actions of others that affect us;  As a result, we may feel sad or regretful.  Usually, this thinking process takes place as a result of a certain trigger and within a certain period of time.  For example;  When we argue with a loved one, we can think about the words spoken and actions taken.  This thinking process is also necessary for a healthy relationship.  Because this way we can better understand why this discussion started and after a while we can figure out how to solve this problem.  However, the overly detailed thinking process can be triggered by any stimulus and does not tend to resolve the negativity experienced.  People can think for a long time about what this event that comes to their minds means, why they feel or think like this, how long they will continue to think about them, and what their life will be like if they continue like this.

Let's imagine a storm is approaching.  An overly detailed thinker may ponder when the storm will come, what havoc it will cause, and what has happened in past storms;  but he may neglect to look for one of the most necessary things, how to protect himself and his home from the approaching storm.  As can be seen, this way of thinking can cause negative emotional states as well as prevent a person from taking action.

People may feel as if they are trapped inside their minds, as is often described.  They may be constantly watching their thoughts as if they were recording them on a camera.  Therefore, they may have difficulty in directing their attention to the mother and their surroundings.  As an example, let's consider a newly divorced person.  If this person is constantly trying to analyze past arguments to determine who is right and who is wrong, they may miss the present moment.  This mental process, which does not serve any solution, may also prevent him from thinking about how to shape his life after divorce.

In addition, decision-making processes can be adversely affected.  Even details that would not normally be paid attention to can be considered, and negativities that are unlikely to happen can cause anxiety.  So making a choice can be difficult.  For example;  Consider an employee going out to lunch.  In this case, if the person thinks in extreme detail, he can spend the lunch break comparing the restaurants around him, even if they have similar characteristics.

How Can We Cope With Overthinking?

In order to overcome overthinking, a good start is to acknowledge its existence rather than ignore it and not take it seriously.  In this way, we can become more open to solutions.  In addition, it is necessary not to enter into a struggle with that thought.  Whether we try to ignore it or destroy it, in both attitudes, we focus our attention on the thought that we are uncomfortable with, and in fact, we are repeating that thought over and over.  Just like we don't get the polar bear out of our minds after the other person says, "Try not to think about a polar bear."  Instead, it may be more beneficial to let that thought flow into our minds like the others.

You can set a specific time during the day to think.  Let's say you choose the range of 18:00-18:15 every day.  When thoughts come to your mind, you can make them wait to think during this time period.  When the time period you set comes, the intensity of your thought may have decreased compared to its previous level due to delaying it.  This way, it may be easier to deal with it.  For example, a cafe you go to in the morning can remind you of your old relationship and lead you to thoughts about your separation process with its current effect.  However, when the time is 18:00, the effect of this situation may decrease compared to the morning.  You can also improve your ability to live with disturbing thoughts during the day by using this technique.

Writing your thoughts can be preferred as another method.  In this way, instead of keeping your thoughts in your mind all the time, you can make room in your mind by putting them on paper.

You can devote some of your time to thinking processes to deal with the activities you enjoy.  Directing your attention to different activities can help you relax.