What to do when you’re overthinking
A New Happy community member recently reached out, sharing: "I feel completely overwhelmed, and can't stop my mind going around in circles. What can I do?"
In these moments, try this short, grounding exercise.
The first step is one you've already done: you noticed that you're feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or agitated. That's completely okay. We all feel this way from time to time.
Next, acknowledge what you're thinking. Remember: they're just thoughts. They don't define you, they are not more powerful than you, and they do not dictate what happens in your life. They are just fragments and representations of information bouncing around inside of your brain.
Then, write it down. It's often very difficult to find clarity on our thoughts when they're so busy bouncing around. Collect all of the thoughts and bring them outside of your brain and onto paper. Here, you can analyze them, organize them, challenge them, or clarify them.
Finally, talk to someone about them. When you share your thoughts with another, you once again are helping yourself to get the distance you need. If you don't have someone to talk to that you trust, it can be worth exploring professional options or finding another way to process them outwardly, whether that's through movement, speaking out loud, or making a piece of art.
