[Trace14]

Is over thinking something learned throughout life or something you are born to do? How do you stop it? and should you even try?

[Skeezyks]

Well... my understanding is that over-thinking is primarily a product of anxiety. So, assuming that is the case, when asking if over-thinking is learned or something one is born with, you'd have to ask the same question about anxiety. I don't know as there is really any definitive proof with regard to whether anxiety is learned or is something one is born with. Perhaps it is a bit of both. Here are links 3 to articles from PsychCentral's archives regarding what causes anxiety, the link between anxiety & over-thinking or ruminating, & what one can do about it:

https://psychcentral.com/disorders/a...ety-disorders/

https://blogs.psychcentral.com/pract...evere-anxiety/

https://blogs.psychcentral.com/imper...nking-anxiety/

Also here's a link to an article on the Healthy Place website regarding the link between anxiety & over-thinking:

https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/a...ng-everything/

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by Skeezyks

Well... my understanding is that over-thinking is primarily a product of anxiety. So, assuming that is the case, when asking if over-thinking is learned or something one is born with, you'd have to ask the same question about anxiety. I don't know as there is really any definitive proof with regard to whether anxiety is learned or is something one is born with. Perhaps it is a bit of both. Here are links 3 to articles from PsychCentral's archives regarding what causes anxiety, the link between anxiety & over-thinking or ruminating, & what one can do about it:

https://psychcentral.com/disorders/a...ety-disorders/

https://blogs.psychcentral.com/pract...evere-anxiety/

https://blogs.psychcentral.com/imper...nking-anxiety/

Also here's a link to an article on the Healthy Place website regarding the link between anxiety & over-thinking:

https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/a...ng-everything/

Thank you for the links and personal insight on this. I did see in one comment where anxiety could be genetic. Is anxiety, over thinking and dissociation something Therapist can see or do they choose not to? It would have been so much more helpful to address these issues before than making me suffer through finding the answers myself and not being able to get the help I need. Ya know?

[MtnTime2896]

Depending on the therapist, I think some do see it and attempt to help you fight against it without being obvious.

Over thinking is a constant problem for me. I do it 100% of the time with no breaks in between. I've tried to stop it before and found that it only made the problem worse because then I was over thinking about over thinking. It's an endless cycle.

I think mindfulness is the best counter to over thinking. I do it sometimes. You just sort of let thoughts pass and focus solely on your breath and present. It's almost like meditation. It's difficult for me because the moment I'm "calm", I get sling shotted back to a full panic and possibly flashbacks.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by Só leigheas

Depending on the therapist, I think some do see it and attempt to help you fight against it without being obvious.

Over thinking is a constant problem for me. I do it 100% of the time with no breaks in between. I've tried to stop it before and found that it only made the problem worse because then I was over thinking about over thinking. It's an endless cycle.

I think mindfulness is the best counter to over thinking. I do it sometimes. You just sort of let thoughts pass and focus solely on your breath and present. It's almost like meditation. It's difficult for me because the moment I'm "calm", I get sling shotted back to a full panic and possibly flashbacks.

I agree it's hard to focus on the grounding techniques. Guess that's why we are complex.

[magicalprince]

I find that over-thinking goes hand in hand with under-doing.If I'm over-thinking too much and have nothing I immediately need to do then I like to get into one of my hobbies or even just tidy up around the house. Or sometimes I'll just open up word and write out what I'm thinking until I stop having anything to write.

[amandalouise]

here where I am over thinking is a learned thing. when children are in preschool elementary school, jr, high school and even in college they are taught to do critical / logical and analytical thinking.. in other words question and look at all sides of things.

example my preschool child is learning this in preschool when ever they are doing an activity the teacher asks "what do you think would happen if......"........" we dont hit we use our words can you think of other ways to tell someone you dont like something".... "how do you think the other person feels when you ......"

my elementary school children are learning more advanced thinking through their math, science and all that..... teacher puts them into groups and each group has to work out a problem looking at all different elements in the problem to come up with their own answers example the children have a group of shaped blocks and need to think and rethink and think again to come up with so many different solutions to the same problem.

in other words they are learning to over think, not go with just any old answer, to look at every single detail and come up with more than one solution.

sometimes I cant help but smile when my daughter comes to me with her homework and says "mom I have thought and thought on this so many ways it doesnt make sense any more like saying ice so many times it doesnt make sense." I tell her thats when its time to take a break, to let her mind rest for a bit then go back to it, it may make more sense later.

my point maybe trace its time to take a break, then later what ever you are working on will make more sense to you.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by amandalouise

here where I am over thinking is a learned thing. when children are in preschool elementary school, jr, high school and even in college they are taught to do critical / logical and analytical thinking.. in other words question and look at all sides of things.

example my preschool child is learning this in preschool when ever they are doing an activity the teacher asks "what do you think would happen if......"........" we dont hit we use our words can you think of other ways to tell someone you dont like something".... "how do you think the other person feels when you ......"

my elementary school children are learning more advanced thinking through their math, science and all that..... teacher puts them into groups and each group has to work out a problem looking at all different elements in the problem to come up with their own answers example the children have a group of shaped blocks and need to think and rethink and think again to come up with so many different solutions to the same problem.

in other words they are learning to over think, not go with just any old answer, to look at every single detail and come up with more than one solution.

sometimes I cant help but smile when my daughter comes to me with her homework and says "mom I have thought and thought on this so many ways it doesnt make sense any more like saying ice so many times it doesnt make sense." I tell her thats when its time to take a break, to let her mind rest for a bit then go back to it, it may make more sense later.

my point maybe trace its time to take a break, then later what ever you are working on will make more sense to you.

Getting the mind to take a break is a problem though. As far back as I can remember I was a curious kid. I'm sure it drove my mom crazy trying to answer all my questions. In previous lines of work it was a valuable asset to look at things from different angles and points of view. But then I've been told it's not healthy to overthink so much. Maybe that's the key here. If I could only get my mind to relax, be quiet and dark. I think I have ADD and that may be one problem. Going to talk to the T about it. May explain why I'm having such problems working through some stuff and sleeping.
Thanks for the feedback.