Overthinking-I’m Overthinking What to Make the Title of This

The other day, I was thinking about what I should write for my next blog post. I had about a million different thoughts racing through my head: Should I write about school and mental health? No, I’ve already written about that in some form. People might view my writing as repetitive and boring. Hmm...then maybe I should write about something I like. Nah...I feel like if I wrote about something I like that might be too personal. I want to be able to connect with whoever reads this in some way. This inner dialogue continued on for quite some time until I realized exactly what I was doing—overthinking. 

I overthink practically everything, from what I’m going to wear to something my friend said to the homework assignment I submitted yesterday to what my future will look like to even writing this piece. I worry about what’s unimportant. I convince myself things that aren’t true. I expect the worst possible outcome when it comes to anything I do. I read into things that don’t have an underlying meaning. I spend hours in a day thinking about things that don’t even need to be thought about for more than a couple minutes. I think about what I could’ve done—what I should’ve done. I over analyze every word a person utters about me. I feel like my thoughts consume me.

Sometimes, I tell myself I’m glad I worried about something, because if I didn’t maybe I would’ve made a horrible choice. But did I really need to worry? No. I could’ve saved myself from unnecessary stress, because often what I worry about are the things that don’t really need to be worried about. I try to look for the good in my overthinking, but lately I’ve recognized the toll it has taken on me. Both mentally and physically, it is just simply draining. I feel restricted and limited in what I want to say or do, which causes me to get in a rut. I also have become indecisive, and I never know how to respond to certain situations or even how I feel. Truthfully, it is hurting me more than it is benefiting me.

I wish I could say I knew how to overcome overthinking, but I’ve only become aware that I do it recently. I notice that sometimes I like to watch my favorite show or even do a homework assignment that I know will be easy—basically any form of distraction—so I’m not completely alone with these thoughts. However, that’s only a temporary fix. I want to find a solution that will actually rid me of my tendencies. Mindfulness is one strategy I’ve heard is effective, although it does take practice to actually get into that mindset. If I focus on the now rather than dwell on the past and the future, I may be able to conquer the thoughts that have held me back for so long.

• Ava Polk