Overthinking · 5 minute read
When overthinking will not switch off
Thinking a lot is not always problem-solving. Useful thought leads somewhere; a loop returns to the same spot.
Ask: is there an action?
If yes, write the smallest step you can take within 24 hours. If no action is possible, you may be using thought to manufacture a sense of control.
Set a five-minute boundary
Write freely for five minutes, underline one controllable thing, then close, delete, tear up, or throw away the rest. You are not denying the feeling; you are ending today's processing session.
Move from mind to body
Notice five things you see, four you touch, three you hear, two you smell, and one you taste. Sensory attention brings you back from an imagined scenario to the present.
When to seek support
Persistent rumination, lost sleep, or disruption to daily life are valid reasons to contact a mental-health professional.