Hi there, thanks for reading this far. I am going to give you a sneak peak into my brain and discuss a problem that I have, I’m not going to go into too much detail about everything, mainly just scratching the surface – it’s quite a big deal for me to open up about my feelings, but if you are interested, please read on…
Are you an over thinker? I know for sure that I am and it proves to be a little bit annoying sometimes because it can take so much longer to do things than it should do. It can also often leave me having a minor panic attack over something that should be exactly that – minor.
So what do I actually mean by being an overthinker? I would sum it up by saying that often I can’t just get on and do something, I have to analyse the situation far more than I should do before I commit. Let’s say, for example, I’m going out for the evening with some friends, it is really hard for me to resist the temptation to text one of them to see what they are wearing. Not because I really want to know what they are wearing, it’s because I want to decide what to wear and to make sure that it’s acceptable and that I won’t look out of place. I am getting better at this and I’m trying to just wear what I want regardless, but I still need reassurance from someone at home, that I look ok. And I’m afraid I won’t just ask once either, the sentence, “are you sure?” gets asked quite a lot!
Day to day outings start with a mini expedition before I even go anywhere. When I go out, I have to check, double check, triple check…is the water off? Are my straighteners unplugged? Is the oven off? Are the lights off? Are the windows closed? I check, lock up and walk down the path and then sometimes have to go back in the house like an idiot “just to double check” AARGH! As well as being annoying and frustrating, it’s also really stressful and doesn’t make me feel great about myself.
I try and talk myself out of this paranoia by asking myself – what’s the worst that can happen? But actually the worst that can happen on these occasions are pretty major! The house would flood if the taps were left on, we could get burgled if the windows were left open, the house could burn down etc etc. So am I being neurotic or sensible?
If I need to buy a new appliance . I have to research it, read a copious amount of reviews , make sure I can buy it fairly conveniently and for a decent price. How did people ever manage in the days before the internet? Well actually I know what they did – they went to a shop – a real one, made of bricks and plaster, spoke to a specialist on the subject and got decent advice about the best one to buy then bought it. Full stop, no hassle, happy ever after and all that. That seems to be quite a bit harder to do now though. But is it because people aren’t so interested in jobs like that any more? Or is it because there doesn’t need to be so many experts because of technology and the internet? So it’s that old chestnut – what came first – the chicken or the egg? Or the egg or the chicken? Oh look, there I go again, looking into things far more than I need to.
I overthink so many things. Sometimes I’ll go on Twitter and if you know me, you’ll know that I LOVE using gifs! It can often take me ages to choose one though, I bet you didn’t know that did you?! For example I might find one that I think is quite funny, but if the person in the gif even remotely resembles the person I’m aiming the gif at, then I have to choose a different one…or even if they have a feature the same or ANYTHING in common I have to change it (unless I know they’ll be ok with it, or better still take it as a compliment.) So I’ll search for a generic gif that is completely inoffensive and then really make sure it’s ok before making my final decision. Another thing I do with gifs, is that I might find one that I like with a dog or something and then I get stressed because I think the other person might not like dogs, so I have to change it! Or say it looks like someone has made an animal do something like stand on two legs or something – I can’t use it! It’s annoying and slightly ridiculous and I’m wondering if it’s marginally irrational, especially since a lot of gifs are computer generated.
Rational thought – I’m sure people just take gifs at face value and treat them as a bit of fun bit genuinely this is how my brain works and it is hard work,
I went to a well-being fair today, which I’d been really looking forward to. I had a healing treatment and mentioned that I’d been getting a lot of headaches lately. I’m not sure why I’ve been getting headaches but they feel almost like a hangover, without the drink the night before! It could be due to not drinking enough water, being too hot, brain overload with new work information, going on computers much more than usual, maybe just because I’m not sleeping very well at the moment, I don’t really know the root cause.. but anyway I asked the lovely lady afterwards if she could feel anything which could be causing my headaches and she said she wasn’t allowed to pass any messages on. Then she mentioned a lady’s name and asked if I knew of her…I said I didn’t, so she said I should look at the lady’s autobiography and allow my mind to open up more, by doing some meditation every day. So now my silly brain is going into overdrive about this! I’m thinking is there some sort of hidden message in the lady’s book especially for me…the lady writes about angels and things like that, which I’ll admit I am interested in and quite curious about. So I guess I need to get the book and read it and work it out for myself!
On a positive note, all this overthinking enables me to make sure my house is safely locked up, I generally dress appropriately for the occasion (and weather) also when I buy something I know I’ve put my all into the research and I know that I go out my way not to offend anyone so hopefully I won’t!
Aww another another happy note to end on, when I had the healing, the lady gave me a massive hug afterwards and said it was a real pleasure to treat me because I had such a gentle heart 💕 how lovely is that!
I’m a terrible over thinker. If I have to go somewhere I have to plan every detail so very meticulously, it can be so exhausting! X
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Thanks for reading Liv, It is hard work isn’t it and can also be quite stressful. I wonder what it’s like to be completely carefree x
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Very stressful! I’ve got better over recent years by telling myself I’m only allowed to think about something for 5/10 mins but that’s it! A sort of limit.
Seems to have worked a bit too xx
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Thanks Liv, that’s such a good idea, it will save me loads of time! I’m glad that it’s worked for you, I will give it a try xx
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I think it is good to “overthink” because it means you are a careful person and that is a good character quality.
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Thanks for reading Sarah yes it’s good to be a careful person, personally for me I wonder if I worry about things others don’t 🤔
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Hi Fiona!
Growing up I used to do the same thing as you, checking doors, locks etc. over and over. I was obsessive over it. Often these obsessions made their way into other parts of life, like study, working on tasks etc. It was good in that respect, because I became good at every task I attempted, but draining in energy. It’s about how you channel it. We can use it to our advantage, but it can get the best of us too. It’s good you’re aware of it.
As for the asking what friends are wearing before going out, that’s normal. You’re normal 😁.
Kudos for the vulnerability in this article. A great piece.
Ivan.
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Yay thank you, I’m glad I’m normal, phew 😀 thank you also for the compliments on the post, I must admit I felt a bit vulnerable posting…
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Vulnerability is a writer’s greatest superpower.
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Get that book! You never know!
About overthinking… It sounds very connected to self-confidence (lack thereof). If you ever need a chat, you know where to find me on Twitter. I’m a serial overthinker as well 🙂
By the way, choosing GIFs is a big deal!
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Thanks so much Kate, that’s really sweet of you 💕 I’m also glad I’m not the only one! I got the book, only one chapter in so far but I’m intrigued 🙂
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I overthink all the things I don’t need to and don’t think about the things I should!
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I think I just think about everything 😂
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I’m definitely an overthinker. My husband laughs at me checking menus for restaurants before I go, so I don’t have to rush a decision. Luckily I find laughing along at myself is the best cure.
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Haha that’s a brilliant idea. I’m usually the last to choose when I go out for a meal unless I have the same thing every time 😂
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FIONA! I just adore you and your blog. I’m the very same way. I overthink everything all the time sometimes I enjoy it most of the time I’m annoyed but I can completely relate to everything you’re saying. I love you and your blog soooo much.
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Aww you are lovely 💕 thank you so much. Overthinking is very annoying isn’t it. Thank you for reading and for making such lovely comments about my blog too xx
PS yours is lovely, I left you a comment yesterday 🙂
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I think this plagues many of us… but maybe I’m wrong? (see what I did there???). I KNOW so many of us must suffer from this. You should see the floor of my closet when I leave for work in the morning because I’ve put on like 10 outfits before deciding on the “right one” — and no one at work gives a hoot what I’m wearing, I realize!
Thanks for such a great post straight from that lovely heart of yours Fiona!
Love
Joan
My Best Friend Adeline
http://kindness-compassion-and-coaching.com
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Aww thank you Joan for taking the time to read and for your comment, yes I saw what you did there lol sounds like me!! I’m actually quite lucky with my work now because I have to wear a work Poloshirt, not very flattering but saves the morning dilemma. All I need to decide is jeans or shorts!! (Though that’s not always easy!) I’m glad I’m in such good company xx
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