Overthinking..

[Namechanged454]

How on earth do you stop overthinking!? And what even causes it?? All my life I've been an overthinker - about anything and everything. Do people think I'm ugly? Do I look fat? What do people actually think of me? Did I say that weirdly? Am I weird? What tone did I say that in? What tone did they say that in?
I overthink and replay in my head conversations with colleagues when in reality they just said something in passing. I disect everything people say, to the point sometimes I'm not fully listening to them because I'm already overthinking. I overthink my relationship - will he get bored, will he cheat, will he one day think I'm ugly, does he love me, does he even like what I've made for dinner, what did he mean by that?
The funny thing is, he's also an overthinker so we often laugh about it and wish we were 'normal'. How do you train your brain to just shut up??!

I'm the exact same so I'm not much help. It's exhausting, my brain never switches off.

Exhausting is exactly the word! Sometimes I know that rationally there's nothing to overthink, but my brain carries on anyway. I replay things from years ago!

Iv met my people! I'm also an overthinker. I suffered quite badly with what you describe but what has helped immensely is the book by Claire weekes. Titled self help for your nerves. I still have bad days, especially when I'm stressed or tired.

Me too. I analyse every interaction and pick it apart with a fine tooth comb eventually coming to the conclusion that noone likes me lol. I think maybe it's about self doubt. Know exactly how you feel.

I definitely think it has something to do with self doubt and self esteem..I just want it to go away!!

I could have written that, OP. I'm exactly the same (I'm 63, and people of my age and older usually seem more confident). It's there every minute of the day - am I boring/ugly/thick/unlikeable, etc, etc. I analyse every conversation - why did I say this/why didn't I say that/what did that person mean by that. It's so bloody tiring. I've tried counselling (no use) and have been on a waiting list for CBT for 3 months now, no idea when I'll get an appointment.

I can really relate to this. I've always had low self esteem too and social anxiety. There is something on my mind that I've been overthinking for the past 2 months and it's just awful.