Not when it leads to problems with anxiety, but overthinking can mean you’re prepared for whatever the world has to throw at you because you’ve had time to think it through, to analyse every potential outcome and what you will do if said event occurs.
The idea behind mindfulness is not a new one. It has been around for a millennia. The basic premise of mindfulness is to allow you to live in the moment, to not be distracted by the million and one things that are seemingly more pressing, that are trying to get you to live in the past or worry about the future.
When we overthink, we get caught up in our heads, and then we can get bogged down in the weeds.
By overthinking we end up losing ourselves in a different reality, becoming trapped in a world of what ifs, should haves, would haves or could haves. And if we stay there it leads to anxiety, fretting, depression, dread and worry.
The only way to escape the suffering is to let go, and that is easier said than done.
Replaying past events or planning all eventualities for the future is exhausting, time consuming and destructive.
Why overthinking is unhealthy
You don’t have to be an overthinker forever, there are steps you can take to free your mind and take back control.
Pay attention to your thoughts. Notice when you get stuck in your head, over-analysing. Acknowledge that what you’re doing isn’t helpful.
Focus on actually solving the problem. Rather than looking at the problem from all angles, and worrying about it, try to find a solution to work past it. If you have no control over the situation, focus on the things you can control, like your behaviour.
When your thoughts are negative, try and remember that the worst case scenario is not going to happen, that your emotions are governing your thoughts and leading you down this path. Try and look at the situation rationally – you won’t lose your job because you take a sick day.
Seek professional help. Consider using cognitive behavioural therapy to help you stop overthinking and show you how to break down your thought processes and teach yourself to think differently .
Known as the best psychologist around, Wendy’s an obvious choice to be featured on the show’
Cheshire Housewives
As an ex-athlete I’ve always advocated the benefits of keeping in shape physically, but it’s just as important to look after your mental wellbeing. Book a session with Wendy, she’s the person to help you look after your brain just as you would your body.
Graham Bell
5 x Olympic Skier and presenter of BBC Ski Sunday.
Amazing!
Rachel Lugo
Cheshire Housewives
Dare to dream big and Wendy’s THE person to help get you there.
Sam Bailey
X Factor winner with a long list of sell out tour successes under her belt.
The most exciting thing in the world is getting a chance to tear it all up and start again. Keep all the things you want and throw out everything you don’t. Wendy will help you do just that!
Becky Sheeran
Beauty, lifestyle and fashion blogging sensation Becky Sheeran (TalkBeckyTalk)
It’s great to have a leading psychotherapist such as Wendy in the Cheshire area, outside of her Harley Street practice. After publicly raising awareness of mental health issues and myself recovering from depression, I know how immensely life-changing expert intervention can be.
Jason Jarrett
Retired ex-professional football who played for Bury, Wigan, Stoke, Preston, Norwich, Leicester and Brighton during a 14 year career. After leaving professional football, Jason battled depression and recovered with the help of therapy and family support.
Wendy is great at what she does; she made me feel at ease immediately and really helped me work through some issues.
Tara Costello
It’s funny but from the minute I met her I felt so relaxed and she was so easy to talk to. Thank you!
Stevie Brown
Wendy isn’t only really good at what she does, she’s also really easy to talk to.
Gabriel Wilson
I want to thank you Wendy from the bottom of my heart for guiding me through what must have been the most difficult time of my life.
Raza Syed
I was told she was the best and they were right.
Noelle Dray
Although I consider myself a confident person, I was really nervous when I met Wendy for the first time. I had only emailed her before so it was really nerve wracking walking up the stairs to her office. I can honestly say it’s one of the best things I have ever done. Wendy is really normal, no in fact she isn’t normal as she is unfailingly bright and smiley even when she has to listen to me moan on about how awful my life was. It feels like having a chat with somebody who just gets you and you can trust with things you have never trusted anybody else with before. The magic bit comes when things you have talked about just pop up into your head and you start to do things differently. Wendy once joked about not having a magic wand, but I think she has.
Paul Hendry
I came to Wendy with a set of problems I have never been able to fully explain to anyone, which included grief, many family issues and alcohol problems. Wendy truly has an active listening style and absorbs everything you are saying, whilst not making you feel analysed, it is an incredible skill. She astounded me at how she got to the crux of the issues so fast. So much so that we both agreed I only needed one session with her, obviously this may not be the case with everyone but I would confidently recommend her to anyone, regardless of your problems. There was no awkwardness or even clock watching, she is wonderful at what she does, take the plunge and make an appointment, you will not regret it. Life is a direction not a destination and she will get you on the path again.
JB
