Can’t Stop Overthinking? What an Anxiety Therapist in Erie, PA Wants You to Know About That Constant Mental Spiral
Have you ever found yourself replaying that meeting with your boss for the tenth time on your drive home? Or imagining a hundred worst-case scenarios before making that decision? The overthinking spiral is a familiar and exhausting journey for many of us. You might think it’s just a quirky habit of yours - but it’s actually a common symptom of anxiety that can be debilitating, truly draining you of your energy and making life one exhausting day after another.
In this article, we’re here to help you understand why we overthink, how it can affect our well-being, and how an anxiety therapist in Erie, PA can help you break free from the cycle of overthinking.
The Overthinking Spiral: What’s Really Going On?
When you’re unable to make a small decision, those around you might say that “you’re just a worrier” or that you just need to “stop thinking so much.” It’s easy to paint overthinking like some sort of character flaw that you just have to shed - but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The pattern of overthinking is simply a misguided attempt by our brain to protect us. The brain thinks that if it can just “figure out” all of the potential worst-case scenarios, it can prevent them from happening in the first place. While some level of this is considered problem-solving and can be helpful, too much can definitely be a bad thing.
What is Rumination?
You may have heard the word “rumination” being tossed around lately - the idea of “ruminating” over a problem has become more common than ever. Rumination isn’t just problem-solving - thinking over an issue or comparing and contrasting potential choices. Rumination is repetitive and often negative, with seemingly no end.
For example, you just got offered a job in your dream field, but it requires you to relocate to another state, 5 hours away. If you were problem-solving about this decision, you might be asking yourself, “Do I truly want to move away? What’s the cost of living like in the new city? How’s the housing market?” These thoughts would likely be isolated to times of the day when you choose to reflect on the decision at hand, and you can turn your focus to something else if you need or want to. If you were ruminating about the same thing, you might find that you’re wondering about scenarios that might never come to pass, saying things to yourself like, “What if I never find new friends? What if my family hates me for moving away? What if I find an apartment with an awful downstairs neighbor and have to worry about getting evicted?” You’d also find it difficult to actually shut these thoughts off - and thinking about them wouldn’t be productive in terms of actually making a decision.
The Hidden Costs of Overthinking
When you’re constantly thinking and worrying about potential issues, you’re quite literally draining your mental energy. Your brain requires energy (food, water, sleep) to do things, and the more you’re worrying, the more of that energy has to be used up on situations that may never matter. The constant energy drain can lead to physical issues, like headaches, poor sleep, and stomachaches, just to name a few.
The pattern of overthinking can make it so that even tiny decisions feel impossible. You get stuck in analysis paralysis over what to have for dinner, or end up scrolling Netflix for 4 hours and not picking anything, worried you’ll “pick wrong” and waste your evening on a bad movie.
We only have so much attention - so the more your mind is focused on worry, the less attention you have for the things that matter - taking in the scenery on your bike ride around Presque Isle, enjoying movie night with your kids, or laughing over a good board game with your friend group. Even simple pleasures can start to feel far away when your mind is unable to break away from worry.
How Anxiety Therapy Helps You Step Off the Treadmill
Often, those who worry are told to just “stop thinking” - and there’s a common misconception that that’s all a therapist is going to tell you, too. Anxiety therapy in Erie, PA, isn’t a space for someone to tell you to “stop thinking”, but rather, a place to find ways to think differently.
At Metamorphosis Counseling, your therapist can help you find ways to be more present - setting your worries aside when it’s not helpful or valuable for you to focus on them, and instead focusing on what is valuable in the moment.
Your therapist can also help you figure out how to recognize the thought spiral, and name it - so that it doesn’t feel fresh and new (and therefore needs to be focused on) every single time.
Additionally, your therapist can give you practical skills so that once you notice your mind is racing, you can be kind to yourself and acknowledge that the continued worrying is only hurting you.
An Invitation to Freedom with Anxiety Therapy in Erie, PA
If you’re tired of being a prisoner to your thoughts, know that you don’t have to break out on your own. The therapists at Metamorphosis Counseling can be your guide to finding a quieter, more peaceful mind. Working with an anxiety therapist in Erie, PA, can help you break free from the mental spiral and learn healthier ways to cope.
Here’s how to get started:
Call 814-273-6270 or fill out our contact form to connect with our team.
Schedule your first anxiety therapy session with a compassionate anxiety therapist in Erie, PA.
Begin building tools to quiet your mind, ease your worries, and move toward a calmer, more centered life.
More Services Available at Metamorphosis Counseling
Along with anxiety therapy in Erie, PA, we also offer trauma counseling to help clients process difficult life experiences, therapy for children and teens to encourage growth and emotional strength, and flexible online therapy options for those who value the comfort and accessibility of meeting from home.
