Overthinking can be an early indicator or symptom of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. To stop overthinking, you can try challenging your thoughts, reaching out to loved ones for support, or talking to a mental health professional for extra help.
Overthinking strikes all of us at some point, but if it goes unchecked and unresolved, overthinking can certainly morph healthy relationships into toxic relationships. If you fall victim to your thoughts and allow them to go too far, they can end up driving a wedge of distrust between you and other people in your life.
How do you help someone who Overthinks and has anxiety?
Do keep lines of communication open. When it comes to helping someone with anxiety, it is important to keep an open line of communication with them. ...
Offer a safe space in your text conversations where they are complimented and comforted. Focus on how you're hopeful for their future. Tell them that you're proud of them. Above all, fight any of their self-doubts by telling them you won't go away.
“Having candid talks together on what they are feeling and validating those feelings is paramount,” said therapist Daryl Cioffi. To show your partner you accept their anxiety, you need to encourage them to open up about it. Try to listen without judging, becoming defensive or taking their anxiety personally.
Experts offered their reassurances that the accident wouldn't happen again. He received reassurance from his family. Children need a lot of reassurance.
Egger adds that the phrase “calm down” implies that your friend or loved one is choosing not to be calm or that they're choosing to feel anxious, when in reality their condition makes it extremely difficult for them to feel calm. As a result, this phrase can cause them to feel ashamed, powerless, and alone.
DON'T bring up the anxiety often. This is a tricky one - while you want to be there to talk about it, there are some anxieties, like panic attacks, that can be triggered by thinking about it. In other words, if you ask someone "how are your panic attacks?" you may accidentally trigger an attack.
In addition to listening, one simple way to help someone in the midst of an anxiety spiral is to ask calming questions. Dr. Aslinia suggests: "How are you feeling?"; "What's the worst thing that could happen?"; "Do you have a plan for this?"; and "Tell me what happens next," or "Walk me through your plan."
Having a chance to talk could help them feel calmer and more able to deal with their stress. Being there for them and listening without judging them can help. [My friends can help by] making me a cup of tea, holding me while I cry, making me laugh...
Don't dwell on illness. Encourage them to verbalize fears about their health, but don't join in. Be supportive, but don't show too much concern and try to stay neutral in your answers. Express that you understand their struggle, without encouraging their obsessive thoughts.
If your loved one's anxiety starts to impede their ability to enjoy life, interact at school, work or hang out with friends, or if it causes problems at home, then it's time to seek professional help. Encourage a loved one to make an appointment with a mental health provider.
Managing an anxiety disorder can be isolating and humiliating. Having someone who you can talk to honestly about what you are experiencing and your feelings can be really positive and soothing, especially if that person is able to listen without judgment and with empathy.
Mental illness alone is no excuse to break up with someone. Loads of people with mental health conditions are able to enjoy long lasting, fulfilling, happy relationships. Just because someone is depressed, has anxiety, or [insert mental illness here], doesn't mean you should write them off.
