When your mind is constantly busy, it can be difficult to relax or feel at ease. You may find yourself going over situations, analysing what happened, worrying about what might happen, or repeatedly trying to work things out.
Sometimes thinking helps us solve a problem. But when there is nothing concrete to solve, the mind can continue searching for certainty. This can leave you caught in cycles of worry, analysis and anticipation.
The aim is not to stop you thinking, but to help you become less caught up in these cycles, so that your thoughts do not take up so much of your time and attention.
How I work with overthinking
Overthinking is not always simply about having too many thoughts. Sometimes it is connected with anxiety, tension, uncomfortable feelings or experiences that have been difficult to deal with.
When anxiety or tension appears, it can be natural to try to work out why it is happening or make the feeling go away. Sometimes this leads to more thinking, checking and attempts to gain certainty.
In sessions, we can explore a different way of responding. Rather than automatically becoming caught up in the stories your mind creates around a thought or sensation, the work can focus on your actual experience and on developing a different response.
The aim is to make these patterns less controlling, so that you can feel more at ease and have more freedom to direct your attention elsewhere.
If you would like to know more about how sessions work, you can read about what to expect in a hypnotherapy session.
Frequently asked questions
Can hypnotherapy help with overthinking?
Hypnotherapy can be used to work with the patterns associated with overthinking and worry. The aim is to help you develop a different response to thoughts, feelings and physical sensations.
Can overthinking be connected to anxiety?
Yes. Overthinking and anxiety can reinforce each other. Worry and attempts to gain certainty can increase tension and uneasiness, which can then lead to further thinking.
How many sessions will I need?
This varies from person to person. Some people may benefit from one or a small number of sessions, while others choose to continue working together for longer.
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