OVERTHINKING?: 7 Steps to finding Peace from Overthinking Stress, Anxiety and Worry

By Bryanscott Parker

REVISED and reprinted for a more enjoyable reading experience!

You can change your negative thoughts into positive thinking energies!

In this book we explore the what, when, and how of overthinking. And there is so much more you will learn about our thinking processes. You will learn the con

• Language: English
• Publisher: Millennium Publishing & Recording, LLC
• Release date: Jul 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9780966030013

Book preview

OVERTHINKING?

7 STEPS TO FINDING PEACE FROM OVERTHINKING STRESS, ANXIETY AND WORRY

REVISED PRINTING

BRYANSCOTT PARKER

Millennium Publishing & Recording, LLC Millennium Publishing & Recording, LLC

Copyright © 2023 by Bryanscott Parker/Millennium Publishing & Recording, LLC

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without written permission from the author/ publisher.

It is illegal to copy this book, post it on a website, or distribute it by any other means without written permission from the author/ publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1

What is overthinking?

The definition of overthinking

When we overthink

What causes overthinking?

How to recognize overthinking

What is rumination?

How to know when overthinking is harmful

How to control the cycle of overthinking

Chapter 2

The Natural Functions of Thinking

The Beginning of thinking

22 Functions of the thinking mind

The Unfocused thinker

The Focused thinking mind

Chapter 3

The Signs of Overthinking

Stress and depression

Anxiety: The silent killer

Insomnia

Worry, Why worry?

Mental fatigue

Chapter 4

The Thoughts We Think

Negative thinking

The Harmful effects of negative overthinking

The Power of positive thinking thoughts

Chapter 5

Thinking Is Fundamental

How positive thinking works

Working with your ‘Inner critic’

Challenge your lack of confidence

Chapter 6

Control Overthinking: Change Your Mindset

It’s time to change your mindset

Create anchors to remove bad habit thinking

Create anchors to produce positive thinking

Meditation

Making exercise and diet ‘pillars’ of your daily routine

Chapter 7

Explore Your Powers of Overthinking

Reset your thinking for better mind control

Reclassify your thoughts

Re-label positive and negative thinking

How to deflect negative thoughts

Remove mental clutter

Update your thinking strategies

Make allowances for mistakes

Develop self compassion

Conclusion

Confessions of an Overthinker

Glossary

Resources

About the Author

INTRODUCTION

We all overthink!

That’s what we do. That’s who we are.

The brain process to think is always on. And without notice or warning we begin to overthink. But is overthinking bad? Can it be harmful? Or, because we do it all the time is it possible that overthinking can be helpful?

When we are thinking many thoughts constantly are we overthinking? Or is it mental multi-tasking? Or is the mind pre-programmed to use overthinking as a tool to look for answers; by overthinking? To overthink when searching for answers to questions and solutions to problems seems like an ‘OK’ time to overthink.

In this book we explore the what, when, and how of overthinking. And there is so much more you will learn about our thinking process. You will learn the concepts of how to reduce brain clutter by identifying useful brain matter versus useless brain matter that crowds the mind preventing positive thinking. The processes that causes thinking in the mind are natural human functions of the brain that are given to all of us at birth. Many of our mind controlled mental and physical body functions are pre-programmed on auto-pilot requiring little or no thinking on our part at all!

In this book:

We explore overthinking in 7 steps that are 7 chapters of beneficial information on how to find peace from your overthinking stress, anxiety, worry, insomnia, and mental clutter.

You will learn how to find and identify the anchors in your daily activities that can alert you to the overthinking triggers that are causing you stress, anxiety and needless worry.

You will learn how to create your own mind strategy.

You will come to understand your overthinking and know when it becomes harmful and/or helpful to you, in your every day living.

This book is meant to be a guide and a resource to help you find relief from the daily stress, anxiety and needless worry you may encounter from overthinking. If you believe that you think too much then it's essential that you understand how overthinking affects your day-to-day life.

Read this book with patience.

Learn each day how to get closer and closer to understanding and controlling your realities of overthinking! Do not rush to finish this book with a deadline. I did not rush to write it with a deadline. Read it one chapter at a time. A chapter a day is recommended. This material needs to be mentally absorbed for the greatest appreciation and utilization.

This book is about your life and how you can learn to live it better.

This book is for you!

ONE

WHAT IS OVERTHINKING?

Overthinking is a natural brain function that we all do all the time; consciously and subconsciously. From the cradle to the grave our brains, once turned on at birth are constantly on until death. And upon our death our minds are rendered useless to this reality. I state it this way because there is an on-going discussion as to what actually happens to our minds at death. Do we think on as spirits into the Universe or do we return to dust and ashes in our graves?

We all spend time, sometimes hours overthinking situations like which dress to wear or what pair of shoes fits best with a particular outfit. This form or style of overthinking is one that many of us would consider enjoyable and delightful; like having fun going shopping! For others it can be very arduous and even painful to make a simple wardrobe decision. And on the far end of this spectrum harmful overthinking can lead to a devastating fear of simply leaving your house to go to the corner store to buy milk and eggs. This could be agoraphobia.

When you can recognize and identify your overthinking you can take positive actions to reduce or prevent that overthinking situation from becoming a problem or even recurring. But there is also overthinking with a purpose that offers benefits in overthinking.

So let’s think first… before we overthink.

The definition of overthinking

The best way to understanding an issue or topic is to first identify the source of its’ beginning. What is the root the beginning source of the word overthinking?

The bare root word is think.

Webster's Dictionary defines think as an action verb with the following meanings:

1. To (form) or have in the mind

2. To have as an (intention)

3a. To have as an (opinion)

b. To regard as to (consider)

4a. To reflect on to (ponder) think on the matter

b. To determine by (reflecting) to think what to do

5. To call to mind (remember) thought up

6. To (devise) by thinking - a plan to escape

7. To have as an expectation (anticipate)

8a. To center one’s thoughts on (focus)

b. To form a mental picture of (see)

9. To subject to the processes of logical thought (think things out)

Webster's Dictionary defines overthinking as;

1.) to think too much about something;

2.) to put too much time into thinking about or analyzing (something) in a way that ismore harmful than helpful.

Eureka! There it is!

When we are thinking too much and the thinking becomes more harmful than helpful this is the overthinking by definition that most people relate to. This is the harmful overthinking where medical professionals may need to be called in. Thinking too much can cause harm that can lead to or aggravate already existing mood disorders such as stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, worry, mental fatigue and fear. It’s no wonder that overthinking can be a pejorative in labeling mood disorders.

Websters Dictionary defines pejorative as; a word or phrase that has negative connotations; or that is intended to disparage or belittle. Here’s an example: Aw don’t pay any attention to Jim, he overthinks everything. In this example the mention of Jim’s overthinking belittles his character: His opinions have no valve because he is declared, an over thinker.

The worst part of overthinking is that you can lose sight of your true reality when you become completely wrapped up in your overthinking thoughts. You begin to feel frustrated and anxious because you can’t find a solution, a way out of your overthinking problem. Your constant overthinking begins to control your life by interfering with your daily activities. This is harmful overthinking.

When we overthink

At all times you want to be able to keep your mind on task and on track with your true reality. Staying alert and focused on what you are doing at all times helps to improve and stabilize your overall mental well being and mental productivity. Conversely, there will be times when your thinking and overthinking may not be productive at all. But non-productive overthinking is not necessarily harmful. Remember we all overthink something. So when we do overthink let’s analyze the overthinking to understand if the overthinking has good positive thoughts or bad negative thoughts. This is perfect reasoning that overthinking should never be considered or used as a pejorative.

You don’t need to spend a lot of time thinking about an issue that can’t produce a positive conclusion or positive solution. These kinds of overthinking sessions could be like dust collecting, creating mental clutter. But you can’t make this determination unless you think about it. Try to eliminate useless thinking that only creates mental clutter. Mental clutter helps to produce needless overthinking that can create mental fatigue; a condition that leaves you mentally tired from thinking too much. Just being mentally tired from mental clutter overthinking can be labeled harmless. When you begin to feel pressured from thinking too much learn techniques to instinctively change your mood. Change your present activity to help reduce the overthinking by doing this:

Get up or sit down from your present position to create physical body movement.

Take deep breaths.

Hum or sing a melody or two.

Have a cup of coffee or a glass of juice.

Do something that will change your head. This works every time! It may seem like just a short momentary fix but sometimes all we need to make a positive and beneficial change in our lives is to be in the moment, and make that change. Seize the time! Take actions that will cause you