Overthinking? Here's What Your Nervous System Says

There’s a good chance you’ve been there before. You’re stuck at work, gazing at your inbox, and your head fills with negative thoughts. During the day, the distractions of work, running errands, and your schedule keep you busy. But at night, when you’re trying to fall asleep, those thoughts come rushing to you instead.

‘You can’t possibly get all of this done during the work day. Did you send the email you promised you would send? What if you missed an important detail during your last meeting? That deadline is quickly approaching. You’ll never get it done in time.’

If you find yourself overthinking too often, you probably see the impact on your daily life, routine, and self-esteem. However, overthinking is a signal. Let’s listen and see what your nervous system is trying to tell you.

Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the most common signs of overthinking. This can be a vicious cycle, as overthinking is also a symptom of anxiety to begin with, which means the state of overthinking can cause someone to experience increased levels of anxiety. Even though anxiety can be just as common as other feelings like happiness, sadness, and anger, if the sense of anxiety persists, it’s important to seek professional help. No emotion should feel like it’s taking complete control.

Dysregulated Nervous System

When the nervous system is thrown out of whack, it can become dysregulated. Anxiety, chronic stress, or stressful life events can lead to a variety of different signs and symptoms. Some of these signs and symptoms can include a lack of concentration, feeling overwhelmed, overthinking or ruminating, and racing thoughts. If you’re experiencing overthinking, it could be a sign that your nervous system is overstimulated.

The Fight-or-Flight Response

The fight-or-flight response is the body and brain’s way of protecting itself against perceived threats. Instead of some of the core functions of the body and brain performing as normal, their roles will shift, and their main focus will be on protecting themselves. When the fight-or-flight response is activated, the sympathetic nervous system is also triggered, releasing stress hormones. Anxiety, changes in sleeping and eating habits, digestive issues, muscle aches and pains, and overthinking are just some of the key signs and symptoms of an overactive nervous system.

A Nervous Breakdown

When anxiety and stress are left unaddressed, it can lead to someone experiencing a nervous breakdown. A nervous breakdown shares a lot of the same signs and symptoms that anxiety and overthinking have, like fatigue, headaches, difficulty concentrating, and mood swings. Nervous breakdowns occur in extreme cases. This is why addressing changes in a person’s daily life and routine is important so that signs and symptoms don’t worsen.

How to Stop Overthinking

Deep Breathing

Focusing on your breathing can be a great way to reduce your stress and anxiety levels while simultaneously working to help calm the nervous system.

Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is another great technique to help bring the body and brain back to the present moment instead of being stuck in the past or future. This technique can help keep you grounded and focused on your present thoughts and feelings instead of having your mind wander.

Move Your Body

Exercise has been proven to be beneficial for one’s physical health. It’s equally important for one’s overall mental health and wellness. Moving your body can help boost your overall mood, reduce stress levels, and regulate your nervous system.

Seek Additional Support

It can be difficult to break the cycle of anxiety, stress, and overthinking, especially if there’s a larger issue. A mental health professional can help you get to the root cause. Reach out today to learn more about how therapy can help you.