Overthinking in a relationship is very common, especially if you have been hurt in the past you will find yourself thinking about everything in hopes to not be hurt again. However, this can lead to a lot of problems in your current relationship if you’re not careful. Here are 10 tips on how to stop overthinking in a relationship:
1. Recognize when you’re overthinking things.
The first step to stop overthinking in a relationship is recognizing when you’re doing it. If you find yourself constantly going over the same thoughts or scenarios in your head, and you can’t seem to let go of them, then you’re definitely overthinking things. This type of overthinking usually doesn’t end with a point, a solution or an end to the thinking. Often over thinking is open ended, there is no distinctive close to the thought or problem you are thinking about. If you want to stop overthinking, you need to be aware of when you’re doing it.
2. Accept that you can’t control everything.
One of the main reasons why people overthink in a relationship is because they try to control everything. They want to have a hand in every outcome and they want to be able to predict what’s going to happen. The truth is, you can’t control everything. Trying to do so will only drive you crazy. So instead of trying to control everything, accept that some things are out of your hands. This doesn’t mean that you have to be okay with everything that happens, but it does mean that you need to let go of the things that you can’t control.
3. Don’t try to please everyone.
Another reason why people overthink things is because they try to please everyone. They want to make everyone happy, and they want to avoid any type of conflict or disagreement. You can’t please everyone, start to learn to be okay with not pleasing everyone and you have to learn to stand up for what you believe in, even if it means pissing people off. In relationships, overthinking can often lead to people-pleasing behaviors. If you want to stop overthinking things, you need to start standing up for yourself and stop trying to please everyone. When you start to follow your own lead, you don’t need to think about how to make everyone else happy and the intricacies of how to do it. It will simplify your thinking process.
4. Focus on the present moment.
One of the best ways to stop overthinking is to focus on the present moment. When you ’re overthinking, you’re usually thinking about the past or the future. You’re either dwelling on something that happened in the past or you’re worrying about what might happen in the future. Instead of living in the past or the future, bring your attention to the present moment. Pay attention to your breath and the sensations in your body. When you’re focused on the present, you can’t overthink things.
5. Distract yourself from your thoughts.
If you find that you can’t stop overthinking, one way to deal with it is to distract yourself from your thoughts. This can be done in a number of ways such as by going for a walk, listening to music, watching TV or reading. When you distract yourself from your thoughts, you give yourself a break from the endless cycle of overthinking.
6. Write down your thoughts.
Another way to deal with overthinking is to write down your thoughts. This can help you to process them and to see them more objectively. When you write down your thoughts, you might realize that they’re not as bad as you thought they were or on the other hand how ridiculous they are. This can help you to stop overthinking things and to move on from them.
7. Talk to someone about your thoughts.
Talking to someone about your thoughts can also be helpful in dealing with overthinking. When you talk to someone, you get it out of your head and you can process it more clearly. Talking to someone can also help you to see things from a different perspective. This can be a friend, family member, therapist or anyone who will listen to you and offer helpful feedback.
8. Question your thoughts.
One way to deal with overthinking is to question your thoughts. When you find yourself thinking, “Why did this happen to me?” or “I’m such a failure,” stop and question these thoughts. Are they really true? What evidence do you have to support these thoughts? When you start to question your thoughts, you can see them for what they are – just thoughts. This can help you to let them go and to stop overthinking things.
9. Practice mindfulness meditation.
Mindfulness meditation is a great way to deal with overthinking. When you practice mindfulness meditation, you focus on the present moment and you breathe deeply and slowly. This helps to calm the mind and to stop the cycle of overthinking. Mindfulness has been shown to be effective in reducing anxiety and depression. When you’re less anxious and depressed, you’re less likely to overthink things.
10. Take action.
One of the best ways to stop overthinking is to take action. When you take action, you can’t overthink things because you’re too busy doing them. This can be anything from going for a run to taking on a new project at work. When you take action, your mind is occupied and you can’t overthink things.
-Thank you for reading, these 10 tips to a calm mind has helped a lot of people and I’m sure it can help you as well. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.