Today, let’s talk about overthinking. And I don’t want to put anyone on the spot here—but how many of y’all are overthinkers? I’m guessing quite a few. Overthinking is incredibly common, especially when anxiety is involved.

You know how it goes. Someone sends you a message that says, “We need to talk,” and it’s instant panic. Your mind starts racing. You replay conversations. You analyze every word, every tone, every interaction. Then you start beating yourself up, asking yourself what you could’ve done differently or what you missed.

And here’s the thing—we usually know overthinking isn’t good for us. So why do we keep doing it?

The Anxiety Behind Overthinking

At its core, overthinking is rooted in anxiety and fear. It’s actually your brain trying to protect you. When you overthink, you’re creating scenarios in your head as a way to prepare yourself for what might happen.

The logic goes something like this:
If I imagine the worst-case scenario and feel the anxiety now, then if it actually happens, I’ll be ready for it.

But that preparation comes at a cost.

Often, overthinking is connected to past trauma or negative experiences—situations that didn’t end well and that you never want to relive again. Other times, it’s driven by a fear of something you desperately want to avoid. Your brain is trying to make sure you never get blindsided like that again.

What Overthinking Really Takes From You

The problem is, when you’re stuck in your head replaying the past or worrying about the future, you’re missing the present moment. Overthinking doesn’t actually prevent bad things from happening—it just steals your peace right now.

When you spiral, you’re not solving anything. You’re just reliving anxiety over and over again.

How to Interrupt the Overthinking Spiral

So the next time you catch yourself spiraling—take a pause. Take a deep breath. And remind yourself of this:

“No matter what happens, I can handle it. I’m going to be okay.”

That statement isn’t about pretending nothing bad could ever happen. It’s about trusting yourself and your ability to cope. You’ve handled hard things before. You’ll handle them again if you need to.

Final Thoughts on Overthinking and Mental Health

If you’re an overthinker, it doesn’t mean you’re broken or weak. It means your nervous system is trying to protect you—just a little too aggressively. Learning to recognize overthinking, understand where it comes from, and gently interrupt it is a powerful step toward better mental health, emotional regulation, and anxiety management.

Be patient with yourself. And remember—you don’t have to solve every possible outcome in your head to be safe.