In your head too much

Have you ever been stuck in your head so much your entire life is affected?

Happened to me this past month. I was literally stuck obsessing over certain issues.

And as we all know, the more we obsess, the bigger the issues grow. In our minds at least.

Like a song on repeat, I just couldn’t stop thinking and projecting the worst outcomes, hanging onto control so tight it was ready to snap ( or I was ready to snap ) and generally not being a pleasant person to be around.

Can you relate? A small problem( that may or may not even be a problem) grows in our minds until, like weeds in the garden, it takes over if not tended to.

So what worked for me?

How did I finally break this cycle?

2 ways.

First I found a Facebook page that helped me. Just reading the posts and the comments from like-minded people made me realize I am not alone in my obsessing over this issue. Learning that alone somehow brought me comfort. ( and many many tears) Reading how they deal with things gave me some ideas how to handle my overthinking and how to move forward and “weed out my garden” or even how to ignore the growing weeds( focus on the flowers, a symbol for the good things in life)

BUT the other thing that helped me beyond that, is that I stopped holding it in and I actually spoke ( out loud) to two family members and a dear friend. Just saying what was going on in my head and being heard was like a huge release- of my feelings, my fears, my anxiety.

They listened. They acknowledged. They sympathized. They understood, as best as they could.

And most of all, they helped me see that all the fear, the questions, the overthinking, the self pity, and the sadness I was feeling was valid yet holding me back.

They offered gentle love, advice and guidance. and followed up with texts that helped me get back to a state of mind of acceptance, love, self worth and gratitude.

So today I reflect on all this over my morning coffee. And I offer this: if a friend or loved one is having a problem in life, sit with them, walk with them and offer gentle love and support.

Or if it’s you who is also stuck in this cycle of making problems out of ordinary situations, of obsessing , of feeling bad about life, crying, feeling lost, sad or alone, reach out to someone and say “ Can I share what I’m going through right now?”

Just talking about it will likely help you see it and find some way through it and out of it. It’s the best talk therapy!

If you need more than that, contact a social worker or psychologist.

and lastly, another good way to stop the over thinking is to get outside. Get out of your normal routine- go take a hike, a day trip, a run, a day at a farm, a walk to a waterfall , a long walk in the woods or at the beach. It’s nature therapy and it’s just what our busy minds need for balance , calming and releasing stress.