Is Overthinking A Mental Illness?

To understand if overthinking is a mental illness, you must first understand the true definition of overthinking. According to the Oxford Dictionary, overthinking is defined as “to think about something too much, in a way that is not useful.” Now, stop for a moment and think – doesn’t everyone around you, including yourself, face problems in their lives that lead to stress and worry and they cannot stop thinking about it for hours? Even though many people, upon hearing this definition, might think that they have an overthinking disorder, it is not how psychology works. It is normal to be worked up about your problems.

Is overthinking healthy?

Overthinking might not be a mental illness, but it can lead to anxiety disorder if not dealt with. When you overthink about an issue, you dwell on it for hours and then you forget about it when you are at work or are doing something you are passionate about, but you start thinking about the issue again later, which is normal. However, as we all know, too much of anything is bad. Overthinking alone is not a serious issue. When it causes physical changes in the body, like increased blood pressure or nausea, it leads to anxiety disorder. It also disrupts your daily activities and you might feel emotionally triggered at all hours of the day.

How to know if you have Anxiety Disorder?

The following symptoms can help you identify if you are suffering from Anxiety Disorder:

• Restlessness; a constant feeling of being "on-edge"
• Feelings of worry you cannot control
• Increased irritability
• Difficulty concentrating or sleeping

How can Anxiety Disorder be treated?

Anxiety disorder can be treated with psychotherapy, behavioural therapy and medication. If you feel the above symptoms are taking a toll on your mental and physical health, you should consider seeing a therapist. He/she can help you get talking about your worries, relieve stress, and cope with anxiety.

In some cases, it can also be treated at home without clinical supervision. Certain exercises and practices may not only help you treat anxiety disorder, but also prevent you from overthinking.

• Stress management: Learning to manage stress can help limit potential triggers.
• Relaxation techniques like meditation and yoga
• Exercise

Overthinking is not necessarily a bad thing. However, constantly thinking about something, over which you have little or no control can affect your mental health. Therefore, identifying the difference between the two is essential.