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Jennifer Patterson, LMFT
Art Therapist
Life can be messy. Sometimes you need a little support to make your way through it. I love to help guide people through their challenges & to find the beauty in our messes.
Top Rated Answers
No its not, Its normal and everyone has to understand it first. Its like a closed end street. One side is your Past and the other is Future. In simple words , you can say Worries and Stress. They wont let you live in a moment.
Anonymous
March 24th, 2016 10:22am
I would say that it isn't a mental disorder. Lots of people over think about things. It just means that your worried or nervous about something. If you are over thinking a lot, you may be experiencing something called Anxiety.
it's perfectly normal for everyone who has alot of plans and things to think about ,
but doing it often can infect the mood and mental health.
Anonymous
March 30th, 2016 12:03pm
It depends. It's completely normal to overthink some things. However; it becomes a symptom of social anxiety when it affects your life. You find yourself overthinking the smallest details; the ones a different person wouldn't even think twice about it.
Not necessarily but it can collect until the point that it becomes unhealthy. Talk to a counselor about what is on your mind. I am quite the over-thinker myself so I have compassion for your situation.
No. It's quite normal to overthink. We're biologically wired to analyse things. So if you're overthinking, it just means you're thoroughly thinking about things that you are clearly uncertain about. Sometimes it's good to discuss your thoughts with a supportive network. (ie family or friends.)
No its not, but sometimes overthinking can lead you to a disorder. Because when you overthink you think about same thing again and again which is harmful for mental well being.
Anonymous
April 3rd, 2016 2:36am
Overthinking is not a specific disorder so to speak, but it can lead to anxiety or stress so be careful and dont worry!
I think it's a problem not a mental disorder. I over think all the time and sometimes I am able to control it, often times not. While being cautious is good, over thinking can literally take your peace of mind away. I do believe over thinking can cause anxiety and anxiety causes over thinking and over stressing.
Medically, I do not believe so. However, overthinking can have severe effects on your daily life and mental state. Overthinking can be a symptom of some mental disorders and can cause stress. One thing you can do to help, is have a close friend or a caring family member help you look through what you are over thinking; Have them help you list out things you might need to do in relation to this subject, tell them your concerns about it, & above all: Do your best not to panic. Panicking can lead to more over thinking, and can make these methods less affective. If you choose to treat overthinking like a mental disorder, be cautious, like with any other mental disorder.
Over thinking isn't a mental disorder in itself but has often be a warning sign of trouble to come for me. When I find myself replaying an event or reexamining a decision from every angle I know that I am spending some serious mental energy on that process. For me, especially as I age, I experience more decision fatigue through the day, The more decisions I have to make the more stressed I become and the less effective my choices are. Overthinking an issue or choice leads to decision fatigue. Strive for simplicity in your environment and decision making process and enjoy some peace. My best to you all!
"Overthinking" is a relative thing - what one person feels is overthinking may feel completely normal for another. What's most important is understanding how the "overthought" affects your functional life. If your find it's having a negative impact, then it could be indicative of some mental issues. But if it doesn't have a negative impact, I think it's alright to think with as much intensity as you feel comfortable thinking.
"Overthinking" is not, within itself, a mental disorder (i.e., a disorder recognized by the DSM-V), but it may signal that an underlying mental disorder exists. Consider speaking with your primary care provider to discuss these feelings, and perhaps screen for anxiety.
Anonymous
April 9th, 2016 7:40pm
Of course not, but in a long period it maybe cause anxiety, just take the thing with calm and think in a good way.
Anonymous
April 10th, 2016 7:56pm
Overthinking is normal for people and I think in some way healthy. However, frequent overthinking can complicate your life and might confuse your brain
Anonymous
April 10th, 2016 10:59pm
No. Over thinking can be helpful. When you over think, you can find out the neg. and pos. outcomes.
Unless there were a specific, direct neurological cause of overthinking, I think it's more likely to be a symptom of a deeper issue. I think if overthinking starts to become obsessive thinking, that could be indicative that something more is going on and would definitely merit seeking the help of a mental health professional.
Anonymous
April 15th, 2016 3:08am
No, it's just a mindset that just needs to be changed. Everyone overthinks at some point, but you have the choice of calming down or keep adding more fuel to the fire.
Over thinking itself isn't a mental disorder. However, It can be a symptom of anxiety, or depression or other illnesses.
Overthinking can be a symptom of a mental disorder. However it is okay to overthink, as long as you do not allow it to stop you from achieving the things you need to do.
Anonymous
April 21st, 2016 2:30am
No, but over thinking can lead to one. You can have depression and anxiety. Over thinking can lead to a lpt of mental disorders, it makes your brain to think of problems taht dont exists
Over thinking, can be an anxiety issue. For example, do these thoughts lead you to worry and consume you? Does it prevent you from your routine and daily function.
No, it is not. It's a tool like any other, which is only dangerous if used improperly, by an unexperienced craftsman.
I don't really think it is a mental disorder, but I do believe it can become very unhealthy if someone is constantly overthinking things.
No, overthinking is too specific a problem. It's not a mental disorder, more a symptom of many, like anxiety and depression.
Anonymous
August 8th, 2016 7:54am
Overthinking is when we tend to over analyze a situation. i dont think its a mental disorder, but more leaning towards a by product of ones anxiety.
It is not. I can be part of a mental disorder, but then again we need to define what a "mental disorder" is. Just because someone defined your patterns of thinking as "too much" doesn´t make them less valid.
Anonymous
February 14th, 2017 5:07pm
Overthinking is not in and of itself a disorder, but if you find yourself obsessively worrying a lot of the time that can be a symptom of a disorder, very possibly an anxiety disorder. It's normal to spend a lot of time thinking about things that are important to or bother you, but if it's stressing you out consistently, you feel like you can't shut it off, or it's interfering significantly with your ability to make decisions then it might be worth talking to a therapist about.
Not in and of itself, however, it is known to be a symptom of anxiety. Anxiety is a disorder, and it is seen as general, phobic, and panic anxiety. Overthinking little situations, everyday things, such as getting nervous every morning and dreading school, may be general anxiety.
Some people tend to overthink. If it becomes so disturbing that your normal life is affected it is time to look for counseling so you can find ways to tone it down.
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