Women Who Think Too Much: How to break free of overthinking and reclaim your life

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Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Volume 123, Issue 1 (February 2014)". American Psychological Association . Retrieved 2014-04-07. Michl LC, McLaughlin KA, Shepherd K, Nolen-Hoeksema S. Rumination as a mechanism linking stressful life events to symptoms of depression and anxiety: longitudinal evidence in early adolescents and adults. J Abnorm Psychol. 2013;122(2):339-352. doi:10.1037/a0031994 Pieter R, Nababan D, Ariawan S, Listio S, Ruben S. Improving interpersonal skills to overcome the negative effects of overthinking in the disruption era. BIRCI-J. 2022;5(2):10632-10642. doi:10.33258/birci.v5i2.4876

You tend to experience zealous enthusiasm about certain topics and endeavors. When you get excited about an idea, your mind runs faster than your words can keep up, or you find yourself talking rapidly, perhaps even interrupting others. Over-thinking has reached epidemic proportions, particularly among women, who are more prone to it than men, Susan Nolen-Hoeksema wrote in ‘Women who think too much’. So, what is over-thinking?Overthinking is a national epidemic among young and middle aged adults but is relatively rare among older adults: 73 percent of 25-35 year-olds overthink compared to 52 percent of 45-55 year-olds and just 20 percent of 65-75 year-olds.

Regardless of the altering effects it may have had on me, it took me FOREVER to finish. I understand the layout of the book and why it was done the way it was, but because of this I literally fell asleep reading this a few times. It's views on depression were out-dated, talking about how 'misfiring brains' lead to depression, as if the brain is the cause of everything, and that our happiness (or unhappiness) is completely isolated and unaffected by our environment. In reality, research has consistently shown that our environments affect our brains and their functioning, and the main contributors to depression are largely environmental (see Lost Connections by Johann Hari). The entitlement obsession. People today have a highly developed sense of entitlement leading us to over-think about why we are not getting what we deserve. You have a sense of knowing when something is about to happen, or about other people's inner worlds. My brain literally never stops. In fact I routinely have two lines of thought at any given time. Not to mention any kind of visual thoughts I might be having. It can be exhausting. So when something bad is happening - or all the bad things are happening all at once like lately!! - I am definitely one to OVERTHINK. And probably to over think about the 2-3 absolute WORST possible outcomes all at once! (And overthink about overthinking). Oh joy! Aren’t you happy you aren’t in my head?

Signs You're an Overthinker

As a child, you might have resorted to your imagined world as a haven in times of emotional turmoils. Dr. Susan Nolen-Hoeksema was born on May 22, 1959, in Springfield, Ill., to John and Catherine Nolen. Her father ran a construction business, where her mother was the office manager; Susan was the eldest of three children. Well Susan Nolen-Hoeksma Ph.D is. She gets me. We are soul sisters! Thank God I am not the only one! And thank God she gives some super practical advice on how to just STOP! Without just telling me to get over it - because those 3 words have me overthinking for days every time! Lol - am I laughing or crying? Laughing? Oh good! It’s working then. Nolen-Hoeksema published a dozen books, including scholarly books, textbooks, and three books for the general public on women's mental health.

When you become absorbed in your love for a piece of art, literature, theatre, or music, the outside world ceases to exist.The book's subtitle proposes that overthinking can prevent women from truly embracing their lives. What are some of the ways in which overthinking acts as a barrier to authenticity? In particular, what can morbid meditations reveal about sense of self? Jaffe, Eric (July–August 2013). "A Legend in the Study of Rumination". APS Observer. Vol.26, no.6. Association for Psychological Science. pp.25–26. Intellectually, you are inquisitive and reflective. You have a strong need to seek to understand, to expand your horizons, to gain knowledge, and to analyze your mental content. Atkinson and Hilgard's Introduction to Psychology 15th Ed.. Wadsworth Cengage Learning: EMEA, 2009.

The first part of chapter one mentions the unprecedented growth in independence and opportunities experienced by women over the past forty years as well as the fact that women are twice as likely as men to become severely depressed or anxious. In your experience, have the liberating legal and societal changes of the late twentieth century simultaneously created new constraints for women?Probably THE most relatable book I’ve ever read. I will probably read it over and over! One of those books that makes you say - So it’s not just me! Chapter eleven mentions that optimists appear to fight illness more successfully than pessimists. Consider the ways in which this mind-body connection has affected your own health and that of your family.