When Your Mind Won't Stop Overthinking, Remember This

I've had days where one small thought turns into an entire disaster in my head. Someone doesn't text back, and suddenly I'm wondering if I did something wrong. I make one mistake and replay it over and over. I notice something different in my body, and my mind immediately starts going through every possible worst-case scenario. That's what makes anxiety so exhausting. One thing I've had to learn is that just because a thought feels real doesn't mean it's true. Anxiety has a way of taking uncertainty and filling in the blanks with the worst possible explanation. When you're already stressed, it can be really hard to step back and recognize what's happening. One question that helps me is, "Do I actually know this is true, or am I assuming it because I'm anxious?" Sometimes that question is enough to stop me from going further down the rabbit hole. I've also realized that I don't have to solve every problem the second it enters my head. Sometimes I need to put my phone down, get outside, take a shower, work out, watch something, or just talk to somebody I trust. I'm not ignoring the problem. I'm giving myself some space to calm down before deciding whether there's actually a problem to solve. And on the really bad days, I remind myself of something simple: I've survived every anxious day I've had so far. I don't need to have everything figured out today. If you're struggling, you don't have to deal with it completely on your own either. Talking to someone you trust or getting professional help doesn't make you weak. You're not your anxious thoughts. Sometimes you just have to recognize the thought, take a step back, and remind yourself, "This is anxiety talking. I don't have to act on it."