The way normal people think is different from the way people who overthink think.

1. Overthinking:

In just one day, the 1.4 kg brain of those who overthink will start asking a series of questions: "Have I done well enough? Can I do better? How will others judge me? Can a small mistake change everything?" This is a way of thinking that often comes with regret, guilt, and worry about the future, symptoms of a current mental disorder commonly understood as "overthinking syndrome."

So, what is in their heads that makes them confused, worried, and think so much? And why do younger people increasingly tend to overthink? Let's find out in today's video.

What is overthinking? Just as its name suggests, overthinking is a psychological behavior where people spend too much time and energy thinking about issues that are often small or unnecessary, and cannot turn these thoughts into positive actions. As a result, people who overthink often feel pressure, stress, and cannot escape the cycle of incessant thinking, constantly evaluating and feeling dissatisfied with themselves.

These thoughts repeat to the point where they interfere with all aspects of life, from the smallest issues to the most serious ones. Overthinking can turn small issues into big worries, easy to understand like ants but through the minds of those who overthink, they turn into elephants.

Overthinking makes people excessively worried and self-interpret everything negatively. For example, a small comment can make them think in a confused way, but these thoughts often make things more burdensome.

Although not a mental disorder, misunderstanding "overthinking" can be a sign of another underlying mental disorder. Some types of mental disorders with symptoms of overthinking include depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

People who overthink often realize that they are facing this problem and make their lives worse, but they do not know how to escape. For example, there is a 22-year-old girl named Thu Huong, from Hai Duong, who is often dissatisfied with her academic results and always stressed about every issue. Every time she encounters a small problem like having difficulty at her internship, she often asks herself too many questions and worries about the consequences, even though the problem is usually resolved gently. However, these thoughts still make Huong lose sleep and appetite. Once, she made her friends angry just by complaining about a small issue, and she always tries to make the problem more serious by giving many reasons.

2. Overthinking:

Have you ever overthought about yourself or exaggerated insignificant issues? If so, that is not unusual because overthinking syndrome is a natural human reaction when facing difficult situations in life.

However, if this pattern repeats many times, the situation will become more complex and potentially more harmful than hidden risks. A 22-year-old man living in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, shared about his experience with overthinking. He believed that because he was sensitive and dreamy, always expecting everything to go as planned, but often faced strong negative emotions affecting his work and daily life. Initially, he did not realize that he was overthinking and always hoped that everything would go smoothly as planned, but later, he could not escape from excessive negative thoughts and interpretations.

This can happen at any time, without clear signs. He felt stuck, not knowing what to do to get out of this situation. In December 2022, he tried to solve the problem by self-harming, but fortunately, the cuts were not deep enough to cause his death. However, his mental state worsened afterwards. He sought help from psychologists and doctors, and after a period of treatment, he felt less anxious but became more sleepy. He stopped treatment and still frequently experienced negative thoughts and self-harming behaviors. Dr. Vu Kim Hoan, Deputy Head of the Department of General Psychiatry at the Ho Chi Minh City Mental Hospital, said that in the first 6 months of 2023, up to 90.14% of patients came for psychiatric disorders. Symptoms of overthinking are very common in young people, especially in the 9X and 10X generations, due to pressure from achievements and social environment, especially on social media, making it easy for them to compare their lives with others.

But life often becomes very glamorous, called "virtual living," while some people still have to live in difficult circumstances. Even with only 5 million, they still have to eat instant noodles instead of rice, but every day when scrolling through their phones, they see others inflating their wealthy lives with luxury handbags, holding bags of millions, or watches worth hundreds of billions. Successful entrepreneurs share "ideal" images of life, and even artists, bloggers, or ordinary people can also share their successes.

This makes young people compare and feel pressured, wanting to prove that they can achieve their goals. They constantly strive and set higher expectations, deadlines, and standards for themselves. But when they fail, they easily feel disappointed, creating more pressure. This is also exacerbated by the explosion of the internet, making it easy for them to compare with the successes of others on social media. This pressure, along with increased exposure to technology, makes life more difficult, causing them to overthink more and lose connection with the real world.

3. Disconnection:

Instead of playing traditional games or catching butterflies as before, now it is easy to find groups of friends sitting at a coffee shop, each focusing on their own phones. The conversation is only a small part, even called "Binh's side disease," a new term in English, describing the behavior of focusing on mobile devices and ignoring those around them. There are couples who skip cuddling time in the evening just to be engrossed in their phones, and sometimes this leads to complaints and depression. A study at Miss Story University in the US has shown that following everything on Facebook can lead to dissatisfaction and depression.

The solution to reduce depression in this case is simple, stop scrolling through your phone. The next cause may come from family or friends. In a society without war, parents tend to want their children to succeed and do not care about their feelings. Otherwise, they may be busy with material life, making the relationship between parents and children more distant, leading to depression or autism in children. Therefore, the psychological well-being of the younger generation needs to be paid attention to and cared for in a timely manner to avoid unnecessary harm.

To overcome overthinking, the most important thing is to learn to trust yourself, stop overthinking, and focus on breathing, physical activity, and healthy eating. Remember that no one is perfect and everyone has mistakes and failures. Accept yourself and cherish life. Trust in your abilities and do not let overthinking affect your life decisions.

4. Decision:

The Abnormal Activity of the Brain:

When overthinking, the human brain undergoes inconsistent and heightened activity compared to normal states. Areas related to the thinking process, such as the thalamus and emotional areas of the brain, often function more strongly. This can lead to uncontrolled thinking and intensified negative emotions such as anxiety, fear, and stress.

Increased Activity of the Thalamus:

The thalamus, an important part of the brain, is often strongly stimulated when people overthink. This area plays a crucial role in processing information from the senses and directing them to other areas of the brain for processing. When the thalamus is highly active, people who overthink may become more sensitive to external influences and easily agitated by small stimuli.

Increased Activity of the Amygdala:

The amygdala, a brain region related to emotions and fight-or-flight responses, also tends to be more active in people who overthink. The heightened stimulation of the amygdala can lead to intensified negative emotions such as fear and anxiety. This can increase stress and disrupt the mental balance of people who overthink.

Increased Activity of the Autonomic Nervous System:

The autonomic nervous system, a part of the central nervous system, also tends to become overactive in people who overthink. The autonomic nervous system plays a crucial role in regulating the body's basic functions such as heart rate, respiration, and digestion. When the autonomic nervous system is overactive, people who overthink may experience stress symptoms such as increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and discomfort in the stomach.

Changes in Hormone Systems:

People who overthink often experience changes in the body's hormone systems. The increase in cortisol, a stress hormone, can cause feelings of anxiety and stress. Additionally, the decrease in serotonin, a hormone related to happiness and relaxation, can also enhance negative feelings and anxiety in people who overthink.

Changes in Brain Structure:

Research has shown that people who overthink may experience changes in brain structure compared to those not affected by this condition. Brain regions related to the thinking process, such as the thalamus and emotional areas, often become more developed, while areas related to control and self-regulation may decrease.

In conclusion, overthinking not only affects the mood and emotions of the individual but also causes significant changes in brain activity and structure. These changes can have serious consequences for mental health and the happiness of people who overthink. To reduce the impact of overthinking, seeking help from mental health professionals and practicing stress reduction methods such as meditation and yoga can be very helpful.