Why Do YOU Overthink?

Unlocking the Real Reasons Behind Your Mental Loop

Oh wait...Am I overthinking it?

As you may have read before...I'm a High Functioning Overthinker. Yes, it's a Thing! (Read More)

So naturally, I’ve asked myself ALL the questions:

Why do I overthink?

When does it happen?

What triggers it?

Who taught me this habit?

Where does it show up most?

And most importantly, How do I stop it!!??

(Just me? Or are you nodding along silently)

As a Mental Performance Therapist, I often work with I work with high-achievers, creatives, and driven professionals who...Surprise! Overthink almost everything.

And because I’ve done my own work around this (My Overthinking Story), I can spot the signs a mile away.

I'm not talking about indecision or “thinking too much” here...it's more than that!

Overthinking in high performers often looks like:

• Endless planning with little execution

• Ruminating on feedback or social interactions

• Mental rehearsals that exhaust you before the task even begins

• Productivity disguised as procrastination

  
  

If you can relate, keep reading because here’s what I found when I started unpacking it all.

The Real Reasons Behind Overthinking

Let’s break it down.

The root causes of overthinking generally stem from three main areas:

Evolutionary Brain Wiring

Anxiety and Future Focus

Self-Perception and Confidence

Blame It on the Brain

Our brains are wired for survival. Back in the day, obsessing over threats kept us safe. That loop of “What might happen if…” helped us dodge danger. Today, though? That same part of your brain, the amygdala, can hijack your thoughts over a text message, an email, or a meeting invite.

This is known as an amygdala hijack, when your brain launches a fight-or-flight response even when there’s no real threat. The result? Racing thoughts. Physical tension. Full-body overwhelm.

(No, you can’t just remove your amygdala. And yes, people have asked.)

Overthinking = Anxiety in Disguise

The constant “what if” spiral is a hallmark of high-functioning anxiety. It feels logical, like you’re just being thorough, but beneath it is a pattern of fear, control, and overstimulation.

And this doesn’t just live in your head. Anxiety impacts your body too, the nervous system overload, sleep disruptions, digestive issues. You may feel on edge even when things are technically “fine.”

Self-Doubt + Overanalysis = Mind Gridlock

Here’s a big one: low self-esteem and overthinking are best friends. When your internal dialogue questions your worth, your performance, or how you’re perceived, it triggers the mental loop of “Should I have said that?” or “Did I do it right?”

This over-analysis isn’t helpful; it’s exhausting.

And it reinforces a deeper pattern: not trusting yourself.

So, Can You Stop Overthinking?

Yes and No.

You probably won’t completely eliminate overthinking.

But you can retrain your brain to stop giving it the steering wheel.

Overthinking is often a habitual mental pattern that kicks in automatically even when nothing’s wrong. But...

If you trained yourself to overthink, you can untrain yourself too.

I Need Help With This

This untraining requires an understanding of What Triggers Your Overthinking? , and What Secret Strengths Do You Have a Result of Overthinking?

Here’s what I want you to take away today: Overthinking isn’t a flaw—it’s a pattern.

And patterns, when understood, can be changed, shifted, and repurposed for your growth.

In the next blogs, we’ll unpack:

• The specific triggers that ignite your overthinking (Read Now)

• And how to reframe your overthinking as a strength instead of a setback (Read Now)