12 unique struggles overthinkers deal with every day

Do you ever find yourself lying in bed at night, replaying the day’s conversations in your head?

Or maybe you worry about things that haven’t even happened yet?

If so, you might be an overthinker.

Overthinkers are people who think too much about things – we can’t help but analyze everything to the smallest detail.

Some people might see us as worrywarts, but it’s not all bad.

Being an overthinker also means we’re really good at paying attention to details.

But it’s true, overthinking can often make life a bit more complicated.

In this article, we’re going to talk about eight struggles that overthinkers like us face every day. 

Let’s go. 

1. Decision-Making Can Feel Like Climbing Mount Everest

One of the biggest struggles for overthinkers is making decisions.

Oh boy, does it feel like a mission!

Even the simplest choices, like picking a restaurant for dinner or choosing a movie to watch, can turn into an internal debate that feels like it lasts for eternity.

We weigh every possible outcome, the pros and cons, and still end up second-guessing our choice.

We might even go through all that trouble only to decide to stay at home and eat leftovers, or rewatch our favorite movie for the hundredth time.

Remember folks, it’s not being indecisive, it’s just our overthinking brain taking us on a bit of a rollercoaster ride. 

2. “What If” Is Our Middle Name

Have you ever found yourself stuck in a loop of “what if” scenarios?

Welcome to the overthinker’s daily grind!

We’re champions at creating hypothetical situations in our minds.

What if I had said this instead of that? What if I had taken that job offer? What if I hadn’t eaten that extra slice of pizza?

While everyone else seems to go about their day without a worry, we overthinkers are constantly battling an imaginary world of infinite possibilities.

It can be exhausting, but sometimes, it can also lead to some pretty creative solutions!

Every cloud has a silver lining, right?

3. Overanalyzing Past Conversations

Just the other day, I ran into an old friend at the grocery store. We had a quick chat, caught up on life, and went our separate ways.

Sounds simple, right?

Not for my overthinking brain.

As soon as I got home, I started replaying the conversation in my head. Did I say something weird? Was my joke too awkward? Why did she laugh like that? Could I have been more interesting?

It’s like my brain was on playback mode and just wouldn’t stop.

It’s one of those struggles that can be really hard to explain unless you’re an overthinker too.

But hey, at least it keeps life interesting. 

4. Overthinking Can Lead to Insomnia

This is a struggle that many overthinkers can relate to – the dreaded nighttime overthinking.

Just when it’s time to relax and drift off to sleep, our brains decide it’s the perfect moment to start analyzing every little detail of our day.

But did you know there’s actually a scientific reason behind this?

Our brains tend to focus more on negative thoughts when we’re tired.

So, that nighttime overthinking could be our exhausted brains being extra hard on us.

A good reminder that sometimes, those late-night worry sessions might just be a sign that we need to catch more Z’s. 

5. We Often Feel Misunderstood

As overthinkers, we often find ourselves feeling misunderstood.

When we’re quiet, it’s not because we’re uninterested or aloof, it’s usually because our minds are buzzing with thoughts and ideas.

When we seem worried or anxious about something, it’s not because we’re pessimistic, it’s just that we’re considering all possible outcomes.

It can be tough when people don’t understand the complexity of our thought process and label us as ‘over-worriers’ or ‘too serious’.

What they don’t see is the depth of our thinking and the care we put into every decision.

But remember, being an overthinker also means you’re empathetic, thorough, and considerate.

So don’t be too hard on yourself, your depth is your strength. 

6. We’re Often Caught Up in the Future

This is a struggle I face almost daily. As an overthinker, I often find myself so caught up in planning for the future that I forget to live in the present.

Whether it’s fretting about a meeting next week, worrying about a trip next month, or planning for life years down the line, my mind is constantly jumping ahead.

This can make it hard to fully enjoy the here and now.

Just last weekend, I found myself worrying about work on Monday while I was supposed to be enjoying a relaxing day at the beach.

It’s a work in progress, but I’m learning to remind myself to slow down and appreciate the present moment.

After all, the future will come soon enough, right?

7. The Fear of Making Mistakes Can Be Paralyzing

One of the hardest parts about being an overthinker is the constant fear of messing up.

We can be so scared of making a mistake that it stops us from taking risks or trying new things.

I mean, what if we do it wrong? What if we fail? What if people judge us?

The fear can be so overwhelming that it feels safer to just stick to what we know, even if it means missing out on new experiences.

It’s not an easy struggle to overcome, but it’s important to remember that everyone makes mistakes – it’s part of being human.

And sometimes, those mistakes can turn into our greatest lessons.

8. We’re Perfectionists at Heart

This one might not come as a surprise, but overthinkers often tend to be perfectionists.

We like things to be just right and can spend a lot of time making sure every detail is perfect.

While striving for perfection isn’t a bad thing, it’s important for us overthinkers to remember that it’s okay if things aren’t always perfect.

After all, life is full of ups and downs, and sometimes, it’s those imperfections that make the journey even more beautiful.

9. We Often Feel Overwhelmed

Overthinking, as you might expect, can be incredibly overwhelming.

There are times when my mind is swirling with so many thoughts and worries that it feels like I’m trying to listen to a hundred different radio stations all at once.

It’s like standing in the middle of a bustling city with noise coming at me from every direction.

During these moments, it can be hard to focus on anything else, and simple tasks can suddenly feel like Herculean challenges.

It’s not always easy, but I’ve found that taking a step back and practicing mindfulness can help calm the storm.

So don’t forget to take care of yourself, fellow overthinkers – we all need a quiet moment every now and then.

10. We Struggle With Letting Go

Being an overthinker means we often struggle with letting things go.

Whether it’s a mistake we made years ago, a comment someone made that we can’t stop thinking about, or a missed opportunity that we still regret – these things linger in our minds, popping up at the most random times.

It’s like our brain has a special storage room for all the things we should have moved on from but just can’t seem to let go of.

This can make it hard to move forward and embrace new opportunities since we’re always looking back.

11. We’re Often Hard On Ourselves

Let’s face it, us overthinkers could probably win a medal for being hard on ourselves.

We set high expectations and when we don’t meet them, we’re often our own worst critics.

If something doesn’t go perfectly, our minds go into overdrive analyzing what we did wrong and how we could have done better.

This constant self-criticism can be exhausting and damaging to our self-esteem.

But it’s important to remember that nobody is perfect and it’s okay to be kind to ourselves.

12. We Sometimes Feel Isolated

Being an overthinker can sometimes feel lonely. It’s like there’s this constant party going on in our heads that nobody else is invited to.

This can make us feel isolated, even when we’re surrounded by people.

We might be sitting in a room full of friends or colleagues, but inside, our minds are a whirlwind of thoughts and worries that nobody else can see.

It’s important to remember that even if it feels like it, you’re not alone – there are many others out there who understand exactly what you’re going through.