Exploration: Calm your overthinking brain Part 1
Peace feels far away with a whirlwind mind
Want to listen to me read this to you? Scroll to the end.
I’ve divided this Exploration into two parts for ease of access. Here in part one we look at why we overthink and the variety of ways we can experience it.
In part two we explore several different ideas, techniques and strategies to soothe and calm your overthinking mind. PLUS paid members get my online course Exhale – a beginner’s guide to meditation for overthinkers as a bonus.
Calm your overthinking brain Part 1
A key feature of a quiet ADHD woman’s experience is how unquiet our brains are. The busyness of our brains, the speed at which we think, the multitude of thoughts we have simultaneously is quite astonishing when you think about it. At the same time we’re taking in the world around us as our senses notice sounds, smells, textures, the atmosphere of a room, and the mood of other people.
With so much happening in our brains it’s not surprising that it can feel overwhelming. Because, often, the thoughts are not just whizzing around and we’re passively aware of them. We’re in the thoughts, we’re analysing and reflecting and what if-ing and we’re thinking thoughts about the thoughts!
It’s when we’re tangled in our thoughts, when our thoughts are having a clear impact on how we feel and what we do that we’ve barrelled headfirst into overthinking.
Many ADHDers are diagnosed (or misdiagnosed) with anxiety or depression before they discover they have ADHD because of the prevalence of overthinking and how anxiety-inducing or depressive it can be.
Why do we overthink?
There’s a neurological reason why people with ADHD have a stronger tendency to overthink and it comes down to how our brains are wired.