Why Can’t I Stop Overthinking? A Counsellor’s Take on Repetitive Thoughts
“Why can’t I stop this thought?”
“What if it comes up at the wrong time?”
“Will this ever go away?”
If these questions feel familiar, you’re not alone.The human mind is one of the most powerful machines ever created—but even the most advanced systems glitch. And sometimes, those glitches take the form of looping thoughts that just won’t let go. Overthinking isn’t just “thinking too much.” It’s a distressing cycle of mental repetition that feels automatic and impossible to switch off.As someone who has struggled with this personally, I know how draining it can be. You’re watching a show, meeting a friend, or simply enjoying a cup of coffee—and suddenly, that one thought hijacks your attention. You try to shake it off, but instead, it digs in deeper. You begin worrying not just about the thought itself, but why it came up, what it says about you, and what if it comes up again—especially during something important.What’s really happening when you overthink?
Our brains—especially those of us wired to be more introspective—sometimes treat thoughts like alarms. Even harmless ones get tagged as dangerous. In trying to stop them, we accidentally fuel them further.Let’s try a simple experiment:
Don’t think about a pink elephant.
What popped up? That exact pink elephant.This happens because the brain struggles to process negation. It doesn’t register “don’t”—it latches on to “pink elephant.” So when we tell ourselves “don’t think this,” we’re actually reinforcing the exact thought we’re trying to push away.So what helps?
The way out isn’t through force or suppression. It’s through awareness, compassion, and a shift in how we relate to our thoughts. That means:1. Dropping self-criticism and the shame spiral that follows.
2. Understanding your mind’s patterns without judging them.
3. Learning tools from evidence-based therapies like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
4. Identifying core beliefs—often long-standing, unconscious ideas that fuel worry or guilt.
5. Most importantly, it means knowing you don’t have to do it alone.
(Source: Harvard Health - Disrupt the Cycle)At Lantern Journey, we work with clients facing chronic overthinking, anxiety, and emotional loops that trace back to deeper wounds. Our approach blends compassion with structure—addressing not just the symptoms, but the root of the patterns.Counselling isn’t about “fixing” you. It’s about helping you discover the parts of yourself you lost sight of in all that mental noise. It's a journey worth taking—and one that can truly change your life.
