Overthinking can mess with your health.

‘If overthinking situations burned calories, I’d be dead.’ - Does this sound like you? Do you think too much?

Do you think the worst or “catastrophize” about possible future events in order to make sure you won’t be taken by surprise? Even if you do come up with a reasonable solution to some problem, you follow it with “But what if that doesn’t work? Then what will I do?”

Do you often find yourself cranky or irritable? Do you find it difficult to put a full stop to ‘what if…’ thoughts and spend sleepless nights?

If your answer to most of these questions is a YES, you are an Overthinker!

Overthinking is a detrimental habit that can cause serious problems like chronic anxiety and depression. It clouds your judgment and prevents you from taking action, creates non-existent obstacles, fills you with doubt, turns positive things into negativity, and even sucks joy and happiness from your life. But did you know that it can affect your health too? Here are a few ways overthinking can mess with your health –

• It impacts your brain –

  This one’s a no-brainer but one of the most obvious effects of overthinking is on your brain. Overthinking can put you under constant stress and stress can increase levels of cortisol, which can wear down your brain’s ability to function properly. It can even kill brain cells and reduce the size of the brain. It has a shrinking effect on the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for memory and learning.

Also Read: Good stress, Bad stress

• It affects your digestive system –

  Ever you felt ‘butterflies’ in your stomach? It happens with most of us, especially on the day of an event, exam, or an interview. So, is there a real connection between your gut and your emotions? Yes, any kind of stress, anxiety, or even overthinking can result in gastrointestinal troubles like irritable bowel syndrome and acidity because it increases intestinal permeability and make changes in the intestinal microbiota.

• It affects your heart –

  Chronic overthinking can put you at the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as chest pain, rapid heart rate (tachycardia), and light-headedness. The vicious cycle of overthinking and stress can further increase your blood pressure which can lead to coronary disease, weakening of the heart muscle, and heart failure.

• It can suppress your immune system –

  In addition to making you feel stressed and overwhelmed, overthinking may release stress hormone corticosteroid which can suppress the effectiveness of your immune system. When your immune system is weak, you’re more susceptible to get infections and fall ill often.

Also Read: Is my Anxiety Normal or do I have an Anxiety Disorder?

• It can make changes to your skin and hair –

  Overthinking resulting in chronic stress and anxiety causes inflammation in the body, which may lead to flare-ups on your skin. The complex endocrine system, skin, and your immune system get affected by stress and anxiety, further worsening skin conditions like psoriasis, and a topic dermatitis (eczema). One may even experience conditions like hair loss and seborrhoeic dermatitis due to chronic stress and overthinking.

Putting an end to your habit of overthinking is easier said than done. But with consistent practice, you can limit your thinking pattern.

So, the next time you find yourself going deep down the thinking pattern, ask yourself – ‘Is there a solution to this problem?’ ‘Am I focusing on the problem or searching for a solution?’ ‘What am I accomplishing by thinking about this?’ You will get your answer. Next thing you need to do is break this cycle of overthinking by adapting self-help strategies. You may even seek medical help and consult our expert homeopathic doctors for a customized treatment plan. Homeopathy being a mind-body medicine effectively treats mental health conditions. It addresses your emotional concerns holistically and helps you achieve overall well-being.