What to Do if You Overthink Everything (and Can’t Turn Your Mind Off)
Many of us are wired to replay memories from the past or think about possible future scenarios over and over again.
Our brains can get stuck in loops replaying conversations, overanalyzing what we said or did, and mentally preparing for every possible future outcome. I think this is often our brains trying to help us prepare for the future and learn from past experiences, even when it ends up hurting more than it helps.
Anxiety and Emotional Exhaustion: Why You Feel So Tired
Anxiety can feel incredibly tiring.
If you feel overly anxious or worried, you might notice:
Feeling drained, even after a typical day
Frequently feeling on edge, followed by having very little energy left for everyday tasks
Wanting to isolate or pull back from others due to fatigue
Am I a Highly Sensitive Person? Take the HSP Quiz
Calling all deep feelers—this one is for you.
You may have found this page because you’ve wondered:
Why do I feel everything so deeply?
Why do I get overwhelmed more easily than other people?
Am I “too sensitive”?
If you’ve asked yourself these questions (or ones like them), you’re not alone.
Many highly sensitive people feel out of place in a world that is busy, fast-paced, and full of external stimulation. It can be confusing to understand why you feel exhausted after being in a loud, crowded environment while others seem to crave settings like this. Even people who enjoy being social might need extra time to rest in quieter environments after more intense interactions.
The good news is: if you are someone who is sensitive to your environment, there is nothing wrong with you.
How to Find the Right Therapist: What Research Says Actually Matters
Starting therapy can feel overwhelming. Many people wonder:
How do I find the right therapist?
Does the type of therapy matter?
What if I pick the wrong one?
You might see terms like EMDR, CBT, or IFS and wonder which approach is “best.” While finding a therapist whose approach aligns with your goals is important, research consistently shows that the therapeutic relationship is one of the strongest predictors of positive therapy outcomes, regardless of the specific therapy used.
Let’s break down why.
EMDR Therapy for Anxiety: How It Works and Who It Helps
It’s likely you’ve heard of EMDR before, even if you don’t know exactly what it is. And if you have heard of it, odds are you’ve heard it’s commonly used for processing trauma.
Whether you’ve heard about it or not, EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a highly effective form of therapy that uses bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, tones, etc.) to process difficult memories and change the way they are stored in the brain in order to reduce distress.
Side note: I know it’s a bit odd that moving your eyes back and forth can help with something like this. I was skeptical myself before I went through the training and saw how effective EMDR can be. (You can dive into the research here and learn more about EMDR here.)