When Chronic Overthinking Leads to Anxiety
How to exchange fear for peace.
Chronic overthinking has become a common issue. With more information than we can process available at all times, we feel pressure to become experts before we can make a decision. Looking for certainty can leave us paralyzed with anxiety.
In his article, Want to Feel Less Anxious? Give Up Some Control, David H. Rosmarin gives some great advice about reframing anxious thoughts by acknowledging our lack of control. Here is one of my favorite lines:
“Giving up control also involves accepting that uncertainty is a part of life. The reality is that we don’t know very much, and we definitely cannot predict the future. Embracing our lack of knowledge and making a ‘best guess’ is far more empowering than needing certainty to make decisions.”
There is a lot to unpack in that quote. It made me think about the constant indecisiveness I’m currently experiencing. At the time of this writing, we are all living through a pandemic. The information we are receiving is contradictory, the daily decisions — overwhelming. He’s right, I don’t know very much, and I cannot predict the future.
Is it safe for the kids to go back to school? See a few select friends? Hug someone briefly? I don’t know.
