"Overthinking" is not a recognized medical diagnosis, but a symptom often associated with conditions like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). There is no single medication specifically named for "overthinking"; instead, healthcare providers prescribe various medications that help manage the underlying condition causing excessive thoughts.
The first choice anxiety medications of many doctors are SSRI and SNRI antidepressants. Other anxiety medications include benzodiazpines, buspirone, hydroxyzine, and betablockers.
If you've been feeling stuck or unable to break free from a pattern of negative thinking, or if overthinking is making you feel hopeless, speaking with a mental health professional can provide much-needed support. They can offer coping strategies and ways to regain control over your thoughts and emotions.
The following are some more commonly prescribed anxiety medications.
Medicines
Such conditions are currently treated with cognitive and dialectical behavioral therapy, as well as medications such as benzodiazepines and buspirone. It has recently been discovered that taking high doses of vitamin B6 supplements significantly reduces feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.
Antidepressants balance neurotransmitters in your brain. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, commonly known as SSRIs, do this by balancing the serum serotonin levels to help your brain regulate your moods. While they're called antidepressants, most offer benefits in the treatment of anxiety, as well.
Anti-anxiety medications help reduce the symptoms of anxiety, such as panic attacks or extreme fear and worry. The most common anti-anxiety medications are called benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are a group of medications that can help reduce anxiety and make it easier to sleep.
Five common anxiety symptoms include excessive worry, restlessness, a racing heart/shortness of breath, difficulty sleeping, and trouble concentrating, often accompanied by physical signs like muscle tension, sweating, trembling, or digestive upset, and behavioral changes such as avoiding triggers.
Antidepressants: Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) and Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) While SSRIs and SNRIs anxiety medication Australia are the first-line treatments for anxiety disorders, Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) and Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) serve as secondary options.
10 Strategies to Stop Overthinking and Reduce Anxiety
Many people with OCD mistake their obsessive thought cycles for “just overthinking.” But certain patterns set OCD apart: Mental review loops — Constantly analyzing past events to ensure nothing bad happened. Decision paralysis — Feeling like you must make the “perfect” choice or face dire consequences.
Overthinking isn't a recognized mental disorder by itself. But research has found that it's often a symptom of other mental health conditions. For example, anxiety and depression can contribute to overthinking. And people who've experienced a trauma may be hypervigilant, or on high alert for danger at all times.
The good news is that you can learn how to stop overthinking. It isn't a permanent state—it's a habit that can be unlearned. With the right mindset shifts, strategies, and self-awareness, it's possible to break free from the cycle and reclaim mental space for clarity, action, and joy.
Propranolol is a beta blocker first approved by the FDA in 1967 to treat heart conditions and high blood pressure. Today, many clinicians also prescribe it off-label for short-term, situational anxiety because it calms the body's stress response.
The Top 10 Medications for Anxiety
A big event or a buildup of smaller stressful life situations may trigger excessive anxiety — for example, a death in the family, work stress or ongoing worry about finances. Personality. People with certain personality types are more prone to anxiety disorders than others are. Other mental health disorders.
Anxiety disorders were associated with a significantly increased mortality risk, and the co-occurrence of these disorders resulted in an additionally increased death risk.
Benzodiazepines are sometimes called minor tranquillisers or sleeping pills. They're a class of drug commonly prescribed in the short term to help manage anxiety conditions. Benzodiazepines promote relaxation and reduce tension, but are not recommended for long-term use.
Practicing mindfulness can help change your thought patterns. For instance, try counting your breaths. Close your eyes and count to yourself as you take slow, steady breaths: count one on the inhale, two on the exhale, etc. When you reach 10, start over and repeat the process until you calm down.
If you have anxiety, medication can help because the medicines used for anxiety alter the chemicals in your body and brain, reducing symptoms, and often helping you calm down and focus on other things.
Overthinking can feel like a never-ending loop of worries and doubts. If you struggle with racing thoughts, you are not alone. Psychiatrist treatment for depression can help you break free from this exhausting cycle. Many people with major depressive disorders experience overthinking as a common symptom.
You constantly feel overwhelmed by worry
Anxiety can cause you to catastrophize future situations. If you're having constant feelings of dread or uncontrollable worry, it might be a sign that you have generalized anxiety disorder, and medication can help.
Sertraline (Zoloft): One of the most frequently prescribed SSRIs, it helps many individuals manage intrusive thoughts and compulsions. Fluvoxamine (Luvox): Specifically approved for OCD, this medication is particularly effective for individuals who experience severe compulsions.