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Overthinking is one of the most often discussed mental illnesses in our society, thought to be more prevalent than depression, bipolar disorder or anorexia. It’s also known as “intellectualization” or “ruminating” and is characterized by excessive self-reflection.
Intellectualizing is largely triggered by anxiety, anxiety about your past, future, or social life. Sometimes it even feels like you’re trying to avoid the present moment with all that thinking. But intellectualization can not only make you feel worse; it can do some pretty serious damage too.
1. Rationalizing
Rationalization is when you look at a situation and try to find a logical explanation/reason why something bad has happened. This includes things like: “I’m so tired, I must have overslept.” Or “My boss yelled at me again, that’s just how he is.” And it can also be as simple as “I’m just not good enough for this job,” or “My boyfriend doesn’t love me.” All of these things are attempts to explain the situation and come up with a reason that makes sense. Which isn’t going to help!
2. Sinking Into Oneself
Sinking into yourself can be another form of dwelling and also comes from anxiety. When you’re anxious, there’s an urge to take things personally, to know that what’s…
