“What if it goes wrong?”, “Did I say the wrong thing?”, “Why can’t I stop thinking?”
If these questions sound familiar, you may be dealing with overthinking. It’s a common yet
exhausting mental loop. Find the therapeutic tools to break the cycle.
Problem: Overthinking leads to mental fatigue, anxiety, and indecision. It keeps you stuck in
hypothetical situations and steals your peace. For students, working professionals, or anyone in
transition, it can feel paralyzing.
Solution: Try these therapist-approved strategies:
• Label the thought: Say, “I’m overthinking again,” to gain awareness.
• Use the 5-5-5 rule: Will this matter in 5 minutes, 5 days, or 5 years?
• Schedule worry time: Give yourself 15 minutes a day to “worry”.
• Grounding exercises: Use 5-4-3-2-1 technique or doodling to shift focus.
• Therapy tools: CBT and mindfulness-based approaches help reframe negative thought
patterns.
