How many times have you caught yourself thinking the hell out of a particular issue or situation? Before going into how you can manage overthinking, you have to recognize the underlying feelings which brings about this habit. Some of these may include anxiety, discomfort brought about by uncertainty, and fear of the unknown. All these may be causing you stress as most of them are rooted in the disruption brought on by the continuing community quarantine.
While most of us tend to resort to some sort of escape – logging onto our Netflix accounts or reading a novel, it is important to recognize these negative emotions. This will enable us to be proactive when such feelings arise. We must be able to name, recognize, and effectively deal with the emotion.
When we overthink, we go overboard with our thoughts. We envision scenarios that haven’t happened, or make other people’s problems our own, or obsess over negative scenarios that are unlikely to happen. Overthinking causes stress. Stress is an internal condition that happens when we are presented with a demanding situation that we perceive to be something beyond our ability to cope. A stressor, on the other hand, is something that contributes to the feeling of stress. It is external in nature so it is still within our control to decide whether or not we will let this stressor in.
The community quarantine can be seen as a stressor. Other examples of stressors include people, overindulging in the news, and being in our heads too much with our own thoughts. But it is ultimately up to us how we will respond to it.
Overthinking happens when we are faced with a stressor which triggers undesirable thoughts that are often hard to control, influencing our emotions. These emotions are more often than not, negative. When these emotions stir up within us, it will likely lead to negative behavior. This trickling down of negativity causes a domino effect leading to a terrible cycle that’s difficult to stop. It might be our metaphorical train that would push us to think, feel, and behave in ways that are detrimental to our personal well-being as well as that of those we love.
It is crucial to be mindful of where our energy goes as we do not possess an unlimited supply of it. If we focus on the wrong things, we will end up exhausted and depleted. Hence, we should learn how to differentiate the essential from the non-essential, and only choose to direct our energy on the important, useful, and life-giving.
Faced with a stressor, make it a practice to ask yourself: “Is this worth my energy?” If you pour your energy into something that is beyond your control, are you sure it is worth it?
Keep these three things in mind:
#1 AWARENESS: When you start overthinking, identify and recognize the stressor, and how you can stop yourself from obsessing.
#2 BREATHE: Appreciate your life in this season. The pandemic continues to emphasize how precious life is and how every breath is a gift to be grateful for. Breathing is a way to connect with your senses, with who you are, and to connect with the God who made you. Your breath is your life.
#3 CHOOSE: You have the power to choose how you would react to the circumstances you are faced with whether they are good or bad. Make the most out of your choice, and try to live a life that is more purposeful. – WITH PAU DE VERA