HEALTH

Why Is Overthinking Bad For Your Health?

To think is normal. However, to beat yourself up with the same thoughts that would lead you nowhere is obviously not healthy. Agree?

Almost every second day

in our lives, most of us are over-analyzing little things. If you realize it is bothering you and not a good sign, you are at the right track.

Here’s why overthinking is bad for your health!

You get into a mode of unnecessarily thinking of things that would end up deteriorating your peace of mind and this would result in making you depressed or anxious.

The consequences of overthinking are as follows :

(i)Increases the risk of suffering from a mental illness

By overthinking, you tend to forget how to balance your emotions and this would end up inviting emotions such as worry, stress, and anxiety.

Consequentially, this is unhealthy for your growth, relationships, and overall health.

The only way to deal with this is by talking your heart out to people who genuinely love and care for you.

(ii)Shoots Up Cortisol

The hormones in your body co-operate only until you keep your mind balanced. The moment you pressurize your mind and begin to overthink, it increases the cortisol and turns on that fight or flight mode in your body.

An increase in cortisol ends up causing problems like high blood pressure, changes in mood, weight gain, and cardiovascular disease.

(iii)Spoils Your Sleep

Catching up on good sleep is the sign of a sound mind and healthy body.

It is while you are asleep that you get to relax and get a break from the noise. However, constantly overthinking is likely to disrupt your sleep.

Lack of sleep can cause weight gain, it would spoil your skin, and weakens your memory power.

Signs Of Overthinking

Lately, if you’ve noticed that you are thinking more than being productive then get a surety on the same by looking into these signs

l Lack of sleep

l Unnecessarily thinking over little things

l Suffering from a headache

l Mostly lost

l Difficulty in connecting with the world

Even research has proved that overthinking can interfere with the quality of life.

Given the fact that overthinking revolves around thinking of the past and clinging to bad experiences, it clearly shows that your approach to life is like that of a pessimist.

According to Ashley Carroll, a psychologist with Parkland Memorial Hospital, ruminating over thoughts in the past can affect your everyday life.

For instance, if you are constantly overthinking, you cannot do justice to any of the happy times throughout your day.

Apart from this, it can even hamper your physical health and as mentioned earlier, you are likely to suffer from headaches, stomach-related issues, post-traumatic stress, and borderline personality disorder.

How To Stop Overthinking?

Here are a few ways that can help you overcome the habit of overthinking.

No 1 - Understand what triggers you

Once you know your weakness, you will sensibly take your next move and this would save you from getting into that overthinking mode.

For instance- If it is a particular song that reminds you of the past and tends to make you overthink. You can take steps by either quitting on the song or you listen to it less.

No 2 - Start Journaling

Journaling is a positive means of observing and letting out your feelings. Instead of overthinking you would jot down every single positive and negative thought on paper and perhaps not think about it

as much as you were thinking before you started journaling.

No 3 - Pranayama

To keep your disturbed mind calm and work on attaining mindfulness, it is always good to add a few breathing exercises to your routine.

Learn Pranayama to get trained ineffective breathing exercises that have several essential benefits on your mind and body.

Take Away

Overthinking has never done any good to an individual. It can drastically affect your personal and professional life. That being said, start journaling, try breathing exercises, and identify what is constantly bothering you so that you can get over the habit of overthinking.