Autistics and Overthinking/Overscripting

A 14 Step Plan to End OVERTHINKING

1. Step back and look at how you're responding, but be careful to look behind you before stepping backward and if you are in a wheelchair don't try this.

2. Find a distraction, oh, look, is it "over-thinking" or "overthinking"?

3. Take a deep breath, not too deep because people will think you are gasping for life, and don't hold it too long either.

4. Meditate, by thinking peacefully and furiously about so many things you were trying to keep suppressed by thinking about other things.

5. Look at the bigger picture, but as you stand back to do so, note this is similar to Step 1, and you need to look behind you before doing this.

6. Do something nice for someone else - not sure what to do, spend hours of your day considering all the possibilities, how people might react, who might take you to court for helping them, etc.

7. Recognize automatic negative thoughts (ANTs), OMG ants is one of the things I have a phobia about, I wonder if there are some near plotting to go in my ear-hole. Or is that spelt or spelled as 'earhole'.

8. Acknowledge your successes, which basically means scanning a lifetime of cringeworthy and awkward moments to see if two or three were any less embarrassing than all of the others.

9. Stay present, which implies you were present in the first place, a non sequitur as you were away overthinking. Does 'Sequitur' exist without 'Non' before it?

10. Consider other viewpoints, which is like taking a step backwards in Step 1 & 5, but more to the side, don't you think, or perhaps you could swivel your neck 360?

11. Take action, but not till you've concluded all your thinking and come-up with all possible solutions, and found only one to be superior and unlikely to lead to ramifications. Did 'come-up' need hyphenation?

12. Practice self-compassion, the only Step of the 14 that makes any sense, really.

13. Embrace your fears, unless your fears are like bears and you should run, or your fear is overthinking and you are trying to cease embracing it.

14. Ask for help... but don't expect anything meaningful from anyone.

14 Further Things You Can Do To Try To Hammer a Rusty Nail Into Overthinking Without Hitting Your Thumb

Sing Your Thoughts: Instead of thinking your thoughts, sing them out loud. It can be a fun and silly way to externalize your thoughts and shift your focus.

Doodle Your Worries: Grab a piece of paper and start doodling your worries or thoughts. This can help to visually express your feelings and reduce the mental clutter.

Talk to a Rubber Duck: Explain your problem or overthinking to an inanimate object like a rubber duck. This is a technique used in programming called "rubber duck debugging."

Reverse Psychology: Challenge yourself to overthink even more. Set aside a specific time to indulge in overthinking, and you might find that it becomes less appealing.

Count Sheep Backwards: Instead of counting sheep to fall asleep, try counting them backward from 100. This can divert your mind from stressful thoughts and induce sleep.

Use Funny Voices: Narrate your thoughts using different funny voices or accents. It can make your thoughts seem less serious and more amusing.

Wear Silly Clothes: Put on mismatched or outrageous clothes for a day. It can remind you not to take yourself too seriously.

Watch a Comedy Show: Laughter is a great way to break the cycle of overthinking. Watch a funny movie or stand-up comedy to lighten your mood.

Create a Silly Mantra: Come up with a mantra that's intentionally absurd. Whenever you catch yourself overthinking, repeat the mantra to shift your focus.

Write a Letter to Your Future Self: Write a letter from your present self to your future self. Include your worries and thoughts. When you read it later, you might realize how trivial some concerns were.

Dance It Out: Put on your favorite music and dance like nobody's watching. Physical activity can help release pent-up energy and reduce overthinking.

Play with Children's Toys: Spend some time playing with children's toys or building blocks. It can be surprisingly therapeutic and distracting.

Imitate Animal Sounds: Try imitating the sounds of animals. It's a playful way to engage your vocal cords and distract your mind.

Embrace Mindfulness Through Art: Engage in mindful art activities like coloring books for adults or Zen doodling. It can help you focus on the present moment and silence overthinking.

147 More Things You Can Do As An Overthinker To Finally Get Peace From Eventual Inevitable Burnout

Avoidance: Avoiding problems or situations that trigger overthinking can lead to more anxiety and uncertainty in the long run.

Excessive Self-Criticism: Continuously criticizing yourself for overthinking can lower self-esteem and increase anxiety.

Rumination: Dwelling on past mistakes or regrets without seeking solutions can intensify overthinking.

Ignoring Professional Help: Refusing to seek help from a therapist or counselor when overthinking becomes overwhelming can hinder progress.

Seeking Reassurance Constantly: Seeking reassurance from others for every decision or thought can reinforce the need for external validation.

Overanalyzing Past Conversations: Replaying past conversations in your mind, trying to decipher hidden meanings or implications, only fuels anxiety.

Perfectionism: Striving for absolute perfection in everything you do can lead to constant overthinking and dissatisfaction.

Catastrophizing: Automatically assuming the worst-case scenario in every situation can intensify anxious thoughts.

Ignoring Physical Health: Neglecting physical well-being, such as diet, exercise, and sleep, can contribute to heightened stress and overthinking.

Isolating Yourself: Withdrawing from social interactions and support networks can lead to increased rumination.

Procrastination: Putting off tasks or decisions due to fear of making the wrong choice can create a vicious cycle of overthinking.

Substance Abuse: Turning to alcohol or drugs as a coping mechanism can worsen overthinking and lead to addiction issues.

Mindless Distractions: Constantly distracting yourself with mindless activities (e.g., endless scrolling on social media) instead of addressing your thoughts can be counterproductive.

Ignoring Your Emotions: Suppressing or denying your emotions rather than acknowledging and processing them can lead to emotional turmoil and more overthinking.