How Overthinking Affects Your Mental Health

Producer: Mehak Pal Editor: Manuj Yadav

We tend to overthink occasionally, but dwelling on minor issues can hinder your focus. Here are some reasons why overthinking can affect your mental health.

[{"selector":"#anim-0a66aac6-12d3-401e-b3e9-4dcfd8465d9a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d6dd07cc-f3e2-4fb1-9e11-cc7fc947ad97 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-2.4868995751603507e-14%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Difficult to concentrate

[{"selector":"#anim-e51b51a8-3797-4e96-8ad6-1e337fe21a4b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ebce131c-0cb7-4a6d-aeac-a7f0827c64fd [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Overthinking leads to decreased productivity and impaired cognitive function. It can make it challenging for you to focus on your work.

[{"selector":"#anim-246e3f93-897b-41f0-803c-2e5ca1b19ffe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b2e841ac-b4f9-4daf-90e2-88df51dd79e4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Depression

[{"selector":"#anim-63b5edbf-5bda-4955-a486-d7c96348971a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-74f58bfc-22be-426b-94da-7086fbb47bc4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-14.130434943842673%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Overthinking is linked to negative thinking, and prolonged exposure to such negativity can contribute to exhaustion or depression.

[{"selector":"#anim-77730fc2-0c0a-4406-8aac-6f3e331e26a0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3d8c797c-796b-4ded-a8ce-abbb7e1810cd [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-20.351392177242744%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Fatigue

[{"selector":"#anim-57e3966f-2bc5-4425-b6e3-221fd166834b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-581e0546-f2a8-480e-b287-fb2daaa18a93 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Overthinking leads to mental pressure which can cause fatigue and lethargy.

[{"selector":"#anim-a1c35866-689f-42d6-9e27-5d228a87383f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b927f6b0-c337-4437-8d2b-fe9faf77d2e4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-11.086956486785276%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Anxiety

[{"selector":"#anim-fcb4a11e-4cf2-4e34-bab3-36b1bd2f2df6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-74d8874a-dff9-47a3-9e24-e230078120f8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Excessive worrying about the future or potential outcomes can cause anxious thoughts and physical symptoms.

[{"selector":"#anim-ebca1d33-6c39-4e63-a231-61df51cd5e3f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a195e13f-c8d1-4ee9-b577-0083fcbd5b73 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-5.820840981456975%, -18.3823523214909%) scale(1.3676470588235294)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Irritability

[{"selector":"#anim-92c9bf58-e97c-40ee-91d9-d98e81281a9b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-63cfbf23-4089-4c76-be16-ad66b0a662e5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Constant mental instability and negative thoughts are associated with overthinking and can make individuals more prone to irritability and mood swings.

[{"selector":"#anim-8c801227-4180-4952-a2ad-635bc3d30997","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0eb7d9a4-7e53-4305-8353-bda651f81e7d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

[{"selector":"#anim-79f81cc7-1855-45e2-b8e4-7403a766ef46","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":350,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3f3817e3-9a9a-42be-b547-861a671a4e11","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 97.15923%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":350,"duration":1400,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-89097ddd-bd3f-46ca-80b7-a494cad95564","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d9cbdaf6-6d98-496c-9e3e-697bdf7ca92e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(109.51009%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]