Is Overthinking A Mental Disorder?

Overthinking. Many of us have indulged in this every once in a while. For some of us, more than others.

Overthinking has been known to be associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression. And sometimes, we can go on for decades overthinking as a habit, if it has not been brought to our attention that it is actually not good for our health.

We take for granted that it is a normal thing to do. Think, think, think. And to overdo it without restraint, like an automatic act, because we do not know, or have not learned how to stop the over chattering in the mind.

I posted something on my Instagram today, that says Overthinking is the biggest cause of frustration, anger and bitterness.

Relatable?

How often has our overthinking led us to experience frustration, and maybe elicit anger within us, or even experiencing bitterness towards self or others?

The thing is this: we do not realise that our thoughts are just thoughts. They may not be true or real. This is something that few people get. They think that just because they think something, it is truth.

The truth doesn’t reveal themselves through our overthinking. In fact, the more we think, the more confused we usually become. And it is in this state of confusion, we may find ourselves making major decisions. How do we hope to live a life of peace, clarity and purpose, if the decision was based on confusion?

Mindfulness and/or meditation practices have proven to be invaluable in pulling our energies away from our minds and into one focal point of breathing or a mantra, or a fire flame or maybe even colour. This stops the build-up of energies within our minds that can spiral out of control.

With overthinking, comes fantasising. Usually, these are fantasies of fear, worry, and anticipating something negative to happen in our lives. And some times, these fantasise are based on unrealistic states that are not connected to what is really happening in one's life.

We often think of PTSD experienced by soldiers or people who have big traumas. Well, guess what, most of us suffer from PTSD to some degree or another. And our PTSD can surface in our relationships. These are mostly childhood PTSD. Some of us suffer from big traumas in childhood, and sometimes little things, but that could mean a big thing in our small hearts and minds at that point in time, and we store these traumas in our body. As we get older, we start unpacking them, and usually via our intimate relationships. This is when overthinking happens, and one's perception of the situation is filtered through all of our past experiences, and the emotions we feel are usually not connected to the present, but of the past. This becomes an extremely delicate time. However, most of us do not realise that this is what is happening.

Overthinking leads to even more anxiety and stress, and sometimes, believe or not, it is just our being's way to lead us to heal. So what do I mean by this? Sometimes, we need healing so badly, of things that we are not aware of, eg emotional trauma that is stored in our bodies. And so, it is our being's way to cause us to fall ill through overthinking. It forces us to lay still, it forces us to heal our physical bodies as a way to get through to the trauma of the past.

How's that for body intelligence?

I have found that people who are empathic or sensitive, have a higher tendency to be much more aware of the pain and trauma. However, this can also lead them to overthink. They feel it in their bodies and their emotions, but they may not have a logical explanation for what they are feeling. They may experience confusion because the conscious mind has not connected the dots.

In working with my clients and on my own traumas, I have found a greater need for more people to understand this idea and to learn to unpack the emotional and body energy trauma locked in their systems. So watch this space for my upcoming class on Understanding Your Emotional & Body Energy Language, it will happen in Dec, as this period has been known to trigger lots of emotions/energies in people.

Click here to state your interest in this LIVE zoom class.

Namaste. 

©2020 Shamala Tan

Let me know how I can assist you if you have any questions [email protected]
Shamala Tan is an author, spiritual entrepreneur and healer. Her work focuses on transforming the lives of others on the spiritual, emotional, mental and earthly level.

One of her success stories as an author is to being featured alongside New York’s bestsellers Sonia Choquette, Robert Allen, Arielle Ford, Marci Shimoff as well as Christine Kloser in the book Pebbles In The Pond.

Shamala’s clients include small business owners, holistic practitioners as well as those seeking to find more significant meaning and value in life. Shamala offers laser coaching to her clients on a one-to-one basis or in a group environment, offline as well as online.