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Constantly Thinking Disorder: is it a real thing?

220 Answers
Last Updated: 06/12/2022 at 4:13am
Constantly Thinking Disorder: is it a real thing?
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United States
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Jill Kapil, PsyD

Psychologist

I have over 9 years of clinical experience, specialize in anxiety, and am passionate about my work. My approach is collaborative, empathic, supportive, and goal-oriented.

Top Rated Answers
NameIsTaken
February 5th, 2017 11:44am
"Hyper Cognitive Activity" is the closest actual disorder to that, but remember this: nobody stops thinking, ever, so don't beat you up.
savanal
April 28th, 2017 9:54am
I didn't know that there was a term for this because I always called it "overthinking." But yes, I do think that this is a real thing. When you overthink too much, it can really hinder your social life and how you approach things. For example, say you overthink that you're going to trip and fall while you walk. When you're walking, you're going to be overly cautious because you kept thinking that you might trip. So yes, it's a real thing.
Anonymous
October 15th, 2016 8:42pm
I would say it's probably a real thing, I've never heard of it, but if it is a real thing, I definitely have it.
Vaux
February 24th, 2016 8:03pm
It might be. I find that with my anxiety, I am constantly thinking and in turn it influences my anxiety even more. It might turn out to be its own disorder.
Anonymous
April 27th, 2016 8:12am
"Constantly Thinking Disorder" is very real for people who have constant thoughts and never get a break.
flyhigh17
May 22nd, 2019 10:41pm
Constantly thinking to some people is a real thing. I have that problem. I constantly overthink every situation I have to face. Or I think about everyone else's decisions in life. It's a real thing but you have to face those thoughts and tell them to back off. Whatever you do, don't let it control you, that's what I did. It can get really bad and very scary. But I believe that you can make it through this. Try writing down what you think or explain to me what you're thinking. What do you think of the most?
imFaith
June 10th, 2016 5:43am
I think it definitely a real thing. Time and time again, I find myself having to consciously stop thinking too much and too far. There have been instances, especially in long journeys where I just keep thinking, my mind jumps from one topic to another. But I think it can be overcome. I've been listening to podcasts when it feel I'm thinking too much
JoyfulHeart822
June 8th, 2016 2:10am
It might be anxiety, if your thoughts are anxious or worrisome. Or it could be ADHD, where your mind doesn't want to take a break- flitting from one train of thought to the next. It could be any number of things, but if it bothers you, talk to a professional, like a doctor, to get help.
Anonymous
June 12th, 2016 5:04pm
A lot of people think continuously. But you know, most of the things we think about are not going to happen.
ElizabethLovesYou
May 26th, 2016 3:28pm
Does it matter if it is a real thing? If there is something in your life that is bothering you and influencing you badly in any way, it's real to you an that's all that matters. If you go looking for professional help, don't be afraid to describe what you are experiencing as such.
Bearhugs1
May 25th, 2016 1:33am
Yes, it is. It's called Anxiety. I get it once in a while. And, believe me it's not pretty. But, it goes away. Just learn to turn that negativity to positivity.
NaturalScience
June 25th, 2016 7:12pm
Not according to the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" published by the American Psychiatric Association. However, there are several clinical disorders that involve "overactive" or disproportionate thoughts. I myself have trouble slowing down my thoughts. The important thing to remember is that disorders are persistent, abnormal (as in 'not the norm'), and disruptive. If you feel your life is impacted by overactive or constant thoughts that you cannot stop, you might want to seek professional help. Don't "self-diagnose." If you already overthink things, you are not doing yourself a service by overthinking your own overthinking! Read a book, focus on a hobby, talk to a friend. If you are really worried, reach out to a psychologist/psychiatrist/therapist.
Kindhearted
February 1st, 2020 7:11am
I have to say yes.. Its OCD for the brain. Its when you cant shut your brain off. Even when you are trying to relax you brain is thinking non- stop. You go over and over things about your life, the past and the future in your head. You play out every outcome. It is a mental protection for some people to prepare for that worst case scenario. It is overwhelming and at times when you want to just relax and go with the flow, you cant. Over or constant thinkers cant just shut off the thoughts as much as they would like to.
QueenDeal
June 28th, 2018 6:33pm
Constantly thinking disorder is real but would be called an anxiety disorder with constantly thinking being one of the symptoms of an anxiety disorder.
Soundsoul000
May 29th, 2019 6:15pm
It seems like less of a disorder and more of just a symptom of something else. I think adding a diagnosis like that is unnecessary. Disorders such as ADHD and anxiety can have racing thoughts and constant thinking as a symptom. Also a lot of people constantly are overwhelming with thoughts but I don't think it is necessarily a disorder so much as stress or another illness. The criteria for every disorder is that it significantly effects your quality of life. So maybe if it meets those qualifications it could be considered a disorder but that's just my opinion.
calmLight1263
June 12th, 2020 6:17am
Constantly thinking disorder, can be a sign of mental illnesses, like obsessive-compulsive disorder and other anxiety disorders. So, yes, it is a real thing. Many of us get entangled in a loop of thoughts, often negative thoughts. The intensity of this obsession can be such that it hinders your ability to do routine work. It drains out your energy and constantly puts your mind on the run making you feel exhausted and depressed. Speaking from personal experience, I would often lose sleep because of constantly thinking about what happened during a day or why would someone behave the way they did. Such thoughts would even rule my mind for days. In the process, I felt like someone else was controlling me. While I felt dejected, I could barely stop myself from constantly thinking. How I dealt with it? One day , I decided that it was enough, that nobody else (my thoughts) had control on me, except me. For a year now, I have been practicing this one exercise- feel what you want to feel and let go. Easier said than done, it comes with practice and requires immense determination and self control to do that. By saying that, I would like to emphasise on the words "let go". How to do that? Examine and evaluate. Not simple. Very tricky to do it. Like I said, it comes with practice. Examine a thought: One way to do is to identify the trigger points- what is causing you to think non-stop? Evaluate: Is it worth my energy and time? Does it help me? Do I have a solution to resolve a certain situation or a problem I am thinking about? If yes, then you could work out a solution. If no, that means it is out of your control, there's nothing you can do about it. That's a hint that we need to stop worrying about it and let it go. Once we get a hang of stopping ourselves from constantly thinking by taking help and practicing mindfulness, one can witness how rejuvenating it feels to have that free space in one's mind to think amazing things for oneself.
Anonymous
January 31st, 2016 12:36am
I believe this is a disorder. Because it's keeping you from doing what you like to do on a normal day
Zak300
July 23rd, 2020 12:26pm
Hyperactive thinking is something everyone experiences at times. It could be excitement over a new opportunites which causes your thought to overflow with ideas. But at other times, it can take a negative character. Maybe we are anxious before a social event, dwelling on the possible awkward situations we could end up in, or maybe we are worried aboubt how we will be perceived when something we feel is very personal becomes public knowledge. The key point here is that thinking constantly can be a very normal experience. However, that shouldn't overshadow that thoughts can be incredibly intrusive and distressing. A common symptom of the whole range of anxiety disorders is the inability of our minds to just be at ease. This takes many forms. We may have a habit of automatically talking ourself down when we enter a room full of peers or even reflecting on a bad memory or trauma when we are alone, idle in a quiet room. In this sense, constantly thinking can have a serious impact on our mental health and wellbeing; and for that reason, it can be a symptom of an underlying disorder. Recognising when our thoughts become an uncontrollable and intrusive problem is the first step to remedying the issue.
shaquilleoatmeal
July 29th, 2018 12:09am
No. It is normal to overthink sometimes. There is no such thing as constantly thinking disorder. Our brains are constantly thinking and never stop thinking till death.
PresenceMindfulnessLove
February 2nd, 2017 12:06pm
I don't know the answer to that and not a person qualified to answer this so please take the following with a pinch of salt....what I do know is the voice is in all our heads..don't worry but try to find gaps of pauses, it's about learning to focus...its hard we've been used to this voice all our lives and now we want to tell it to stop......good tips....sit in a quiet place with no distraction, a park, a green environment or even your room with no distractions (No phones or tv switch everything off)....and just focus on yourself, your body etc. do this every day for 1 minute...eventually the voice will come back and your mind will wonder again...when you realise this come back to the thing that you were focussing on). do this every day, eventually, you'll start seeing progress...best of luck to all of us with this
xray
February 12th, 2016 7:16am
Everyone thinks constantly to one degree or another, except maybe for the people who have trained themselves to have a quiet mind. The frequency and the content of the thoughts is maybe what varies from person to person, but whether someone chooses to label it a "disorder" is up to them. If that's the way they understand the condition, that's their worldview. You have to find your own.
Imherepeople8
February 28th, 2016 9:02am
Yes of course, constantly thinking about your future and your past and not enjoying your present. Thinking about the mistakes you did or the things that could go wrong in future
Beeblebrox42
August 17th, 2018 1:26am
That's a really interesting question. On the one hand, from personal experience I definitely feel like I am constantly thinking. I always feel the need to keep myself entertained, and boredom feels downright painful. I can see how this can be problematic because if I'm constantly thinking, I'm constantly burning oh-so-precious energy that I could be saving for much more productive things! On the other hand, what would it even feel like to not think? Do we count perception as thought? Are observations thought? Or are we only counting a running internal monologue as 'Thought'? Depending on how broadly we define the term, would we even be conscious of the passage of time if we weren't thinking? If that's the case then CTD isn't so much a disorder as it is a function of consciousness. Or maybe I just think too much!
ElectricGrace54
March 12th, 2016 5:11pm
Personally, I think it is. There are some people who can think of nothing and relax... and those who think so much that it then starts to harm them.
Anonymous
March 12th, 2016 8:14pm
Honestly, when do we NOT think? We, as humans, over think A LOT. It's actually a probably for most people.
lizzle
March 13th, 2016 4:32am
I would say no , because constantly thinking is apart of the human experience, especially as an introvert. Sometimes your thoughts never stop, but that isn't a bad thing. Unless your thoughts are causing distress by becoming anxiety or over excitement, and it's making you miserable constantly. Then I guess that would be an anxiety disorder rather than an over thinking disorder, I'm not sure on this answer.
gentleVision89
July 31st, 2016 8:04am
Yeah can be, there are people who think alot even for small things ,it's alright but they need to learn to calm down and enjoy life :)
Anonymous
March 16th, 2016 2:23pm
It can be real for us who struggles to stop recurring thoughts. I personally find it real because at times it is hard to cope with flashing thoughts which cannot be suppressed within you.
KittenLove
July 31st, 2016 6:44am
I personally believe so, and I even think I may be sufering from it as I am thinking 24/7, and has no to little controll.
Anonymous
November 20th, 2020 11:50pm
obsessive thinking patterns emanate for the first time either in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood. obsessive compulsive disorder comprises thinking way too much, which can spearhead compulsive behavior. this disorder involves surging of ideas, impulses and images in a person’s mind over and over again. it involves thinking, fantasizing, ruminating, etc. and is considered to be an emotional defense technique, used by people to dissociate from the emotional pain one has experienced.