Why Do I Overthink Everything?

Why am I Overthinking This?

It's 11:47 PM and you're replaying a text message for the fourth time, drafting responses you'll never send, rehearsing a conversation that hasn't happened yet. Then comes the second thought: what's wrong with me that I can't stop? Why am I overthinking this?

When you’re stuck in overthinking something, you can be aware that you’re doing it and aware that it’s not helpful—and then find yourself doing it again, even if you try to distract yourself.

It’s so frustrating.

The good news?

Nothing's wrong with you. In this episode, we're unpacking your question--why do I overthink everything?--and how the real lens here is how your brain is trying to protect you.

What Overthinking Really Is

"Overthinking" is actually deep, valuable processing that's been mislabeled as a flaw (and by the way, women in particular are told that they’re “overthinking” things when in fact they’re strategizing multiple possibilities). This is a complex process that those who have more trouble navigating complexity are likely to tell you to stop. We'll identify the specific point where thinking stops being preparation and starts becoming a loop that freezes you instead of moving you forward.

This episode isn’t just going to offer you a few helpful tips—it draws on research into the psychology of worry and rumination. I’m making the case that your overactive mind isn't a personality defect — it's an old strategy that's overdue for an update.