Overthinking is something we all do, but it can be dangerous if we don’t control our thoughts.
Talking Points:
- Most of the time, you’re probably creating more stress by thinking about things that don’t end up happening. You’re not solving your problems, you’re just causing yourself undue stress, lying awake at night for no good reason.
- There are lots of ways to work on overthinking. Here’s one: set a timer for five minutes and let yourself think about anything you want. Then for ten minutes, write down all the things that came to mind. Then, throw that paper in the trash and let those thoughts disappear!
- Another tip is to make yourself think about good things instead of negative things. Work hard to focus and refocus on the positive. Don’t let negative thoughts creep in and take over.
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Do you often find yourself overthinking? What sorts of things are on your mind? Why are these things on your mind?
- Think about the times in the past you’ve spent overthinking. How many of the things you spent hours and hours thinking about actually ended up happening? What should your answer to this question teach you?
- The tips we talked about in this topic were pretty therapeutic – rip up a paper with your overthinking thoughts on them – or work hard to think of good things instead of negative things. What are some other ideas that have helped you, or what do you think might be helpful to try in the future?
- Who are some people in your life you can talk to about your overthinking? Why are these people trustworthy, and how can they help you?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
