Inside the Mind of an Overthinker: Understanding, Managing & Empowering the Overactive Brain

Let me tell you - if overthinking were an Olympic sport, I’d have a gold medal (and still worry about whether I earned it fairly). This post isn’t coming from a distant observer. It’s coming from someone who has spiralled at 2 a.m. over the tone of a text message. Who's felt completely stuck over something as simple as choosing a dinner recipe. If that sounds familiar, then this is for you.

Who Are Overthinkers?

Overthinkers are the ones who feel like their brain has 127 tabs open, and somehow... none of them are playing the right music. We replay conversations like a broken record, plan for catastrophes that will never happen, and can’t “just relax” no matter how many people say it like it’s a button we forgot to press.

And it’s not because we want to suffer. It’s because we care - a lot. We want to get things right, to not hurt anyone, to be prepared, to feel safe. But this can quickly become a mental storm that leaves us overwhelmed, exhausted, and detached from the present.

How Does Overthinking Show Up?

In my own life - and in the lives of many people I’ve met and worked with - it shows up like this:

• Decision paralysis – You weigh every possible outcome... and end up doing nothing.

• Endless replays – “Should I have said that?”

• Imaginary arguments – Winning debates that never even happened.

• Needing to know everything first – Research rabbit holes galore.

• Trying to read minds – Assuming what others really meant.

• Burning out at bedtime – Because our brain saves its best overthinking for the moment we finally lie down.

The Hidden Toll It Takes

Overthinking steals peace. It clouds confidence. It sabotages joy. And it often wears a clever disguise - like perfectionism, high standards, or being “just really careful”.

But what it really does is:

• Strain our relationships (people can feel when we don’t trust ourselves).

• Kill momentum (the more we hesitate, the less we move).

• Drain our body (hello, tension headaches and digestive chaos).

What Overthinkers Often Do to Cope

We don’t just sit in our thoughts - we try to manage them. The coping strategies may look like:

• Procrastination (aka perfectionism’s twin).

• Writing lists to calm the chaos.

• Seeking reassurance 10 different ways.

• Avoiding decisions altogether.

• Obsessing over small things because big things feel too big.

Sound familiar?

But Let’s Get This Straight - Overthinking Has Upsides

Yes, really. Behind the overwhelm, there’s power:

• You feel deeply.

• You care about doing the right thing.

• You notice details others miss.

• You have wild, powerful imagination.

This isn't about silencing your brain. It’s about redirecting it. Calming the storm, not shutting it down.

What Actually Helps (From Someone Who’s Been There)

🌿 Herbal Support

Herbs can help your nervous system feel held.

• Lemon balm is my go-to when I need to soften the buzz.

• Lavender, ashwagandha, and lion's mane work beautifully for grounding over time.

🧘‍♀️ Meditation & Breathwork

It doesn’t have to be fancy. Sometimes it’s three deep belly breaths while whispering, “I’m safe.” Other days it’s guided meditations or just placing my hand on my heart. Start small.

📓 Journaling - brain dumps

This has saved me. Dump it all out. All the tangled thoughts. Then choose one thought to explore. Ask it questions. Shift it if you can. Just getting it out of your head and onto the page creates space.

🧠 Thought Work

Using thought models changed everything for me. It taught me to see the loop I was in, question it, and find a new path. Awareness is the first breakthrough. And it’s a powerful one.

🗣️ Talking Helps - So Much

Whether it’s speaking therapy, energy healing, or a trusted friend - saying things out loud untangles the mess. I use Theta Healing and Emotion Code with clients to shift subconscious loops that logic alone can’t touch.

🌳 Movement & Nature

Go for a walk. Move your body. Let the outside world pull you out of your head. The simplest things often help the most.

Final Thoughts

If you’re an overthinker, I get it. It’s not about fixing you. It’s about supporting the beautiful, overactive, thoughtful brain you’ve got - so it works with you, not against you.

Overthinking isn’t your enemy. But left unchecked, it will run the show. And you deserve to be in the driver’s seat of your life.

You don’t have to quiet your thoughts. You just have to learn how to lead them.

Of course, this is more complex than just leading and managing a hyperactive mind, but everything that I mentioned above is a good start.

If this resonates and you want to go deeper, reach out. I’ve walked this path, and I know it’s easier when you’re not doing it alone.

Note: Please do your own research and get in touch with a herbalist if you're considering taking herbal supplements.