Do you spin your head all day?

Today I would like us to talk about a topic that affects many people, and it is nothing more than "not being able to stop thinking", as a colleague recently stated. And it is a very frequent cause of consultation in the clinic.

"I turn my head over and over all day", "I can't stop thinking", "I live worried", "I don't like thinking like this all the time"... If you feel identified with any of these phrases, then this article is for you.

• Related article: "Cognition: definition, main processes and functioning"

Not being able to stop thinking is more common than we think

An acquaintance told me that she can't stop thinking: that evaluates in his head the possible scenarios of each situation, that is, the pros and cons, what things can go well, and what things can go wrong, and how she would react to each of those scenarios.

He also told me that sometimes he anguishes, who does not know the origin of said anguish, and who in general, even thinks about her anguish and rethinks it a thousand and one times.

Given this, I told him that I understood perfectly what he was referring to, since it also happened to me at times when I am very overloaded by responsibilities and various activities, and during that talk we began to evaluate the possible reasons why she feels this way.

In clinical practice it is very common for topics such as:

• "I overthink things."
• "I give turns to any subject".
• "Sometimes I don't know what's wrong with me and I get sick...".
• "I want to solve things and in the end I can't do it alone".

• You may be interested: "Rumination: The Annoying Vicious Circle of Thinking"

How can I avoid thinking so much?

Stopping our head from thinking is not an easy task, especially when a lot of different topics are mixed. Therefore, since I want to help you, I am going to leave you a list of things to start to stop thinking so much.

1. Make a list with priorities

This implies organize the week if possible, but also with some flexibility (because not everything always goes according to plan). It is normal not to be able to do everything, it is a great lesson that we can learn, and putting together a list of priorities can help you internalize what we really want to achieve.

Ask yourself the key questions, such as: what is more important? What can I leave for later? Can I do everything at once or does that make me more anxious?

• You may be interested: "The 10 types of values: principles that govern our lives"

2. Think about each of the topics you wrote down

From what you have written, you can ask yourself: can i do something to improve it? Does the solution depend exclusively on me? If the answer is yes, take care of yourself, if the answer is no, it is not worth continuing to think about it, it is better to direct our energy to something else.

• Related article: "Stoic psychology: a commitment to tranquility"

3. Allocate some time just for your enjoyment

This time should be left out of responsibilities and duties. It can consist of dedicating one day of the week to going to the beach, practicing a sport, visiting a friend, in general, things that can relax your mind from all the duties and obligations.

4. If the situation overwhelms you, go to therapy

If you feel alone and you can't handle everything, do not hesitate to consult with a mental health professional; a psychologist who can listen to you and guide you in a timely manner according to your needs.

With these points you already have the beginning to think less!