Overthinking, analysis paralysis, and setting our imaginations loose to tackle problems that might not even occur are some of our biggest weaknesses. They lead to a lot of anxiety and, you could argue, they’re the symptoms of far bigger problems—deep-seated perfectionism and insecurity.
We’ve all made mountains out of molehills at some point in our lives, and it’s something that we’ve got in common, Pandas. To show you just how widespread overthinking is, Bored Panda has hand-crafted this list about the lighter, more comical side of it all. (We just hope it’s good enough for you; but what if it’s not? What are we going to do if someone doesn’t like our memes?!)
Scroll down and upvote your fave pics. And if you need an extra-long coffee break, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered, Pandas. You can find some more great jokes about being an overthinker right here. Enjoy!
Suzanne Degges-White, a Licensed Counselor, Professor, and Chair at the Department of Counseling and Higher Education at Northern Illinois University, was kind enough to explain to Bored Panda the consequences that overthinking, how it relates to anxiety and perfectionism, has and how to put a stop to it.
"One of the primary negative consequences of overthinking is that you end up missing opportunities! Overthinking can lead to procrastination as you try to examine choices or circumstances too closely and for too long. Overthinking can also lead to paralysis and not moving forward or taking a chance as the overthinking creates stress and anxiety as you spend too much time focusing on the 'What can go wrong?' versus the 'What Ifs' in life," Professor Degges-White told us how overthinking impacts daily life.
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According to Professor Degges-White, the relationship between overthinking and anxiety might not be as straightforward and clear as it might seem. What's more, overthinking exists on a spectrum: not all overthinkers are alike.
"Overthinking and anxiety have something of a 'chicken and the egg' relationship—if we're prone to anxiety, the more likely we are to engage in overthinking, and the more we overthink something, the more anxious we tend to become," she explained to Bored Panda.
"Overthinking, like a lot of tendencies, is on a spectrum. Some of us overthink things, but still commit to something before the metaphorical bell rings. Others, including those who tend towards obsessive compulsiveness, get so locked into overthinking that they can't move forward."
When you need books to function but your brain won't let you read 😭
Load More Replies...Or get halfway through a show just to rewind it because you start thinking about if you let the dogs back in but don't even have any dogs.
That feeling when the current page number says you've read like ten pages, but all you can remember is looking at the letters.
Me: *trying to read a book* Brain: I'm bored, let's do something else. Me: Shuddup, I'm reading! Brain: Good heavens, look at your long fingernails! You need to take care of those. Me: Still reading, stupid brain. *accidentally scratches myself so it starts to bleed* Brain: See, told you! Where's the nail clipper? Oh, and you need a bandaid too. Me: #%$*@!!
That's all??? So much more willpower than I have.
Load More Replies...Looks silly but I'll follow along with my finger when I really need to concentrate and it helps so much. Also, in regards to reading for school, making notes as you go helps to retain the info (and understand it better when you put them in your own words). Takes a fair amount of time, but I never need to reread and just glance over my own notes if I need a refresher.
"I did well at school why am i such a slow reader?" *reads every sentence 4 times.
The only times that I did that was during the years when I was in school . . . all 20 of them. Since then, I only read what "I" want to read and I'm always interested in that. Zoning out is not an option now.
Or using the reverse function when watching a moving on tv because suddenly nothing makes sense and you need to know why.
When I was 20 something I used to read a LOT of sci-fi and I always needed a while to get INTO the story.... my then gf insisted on breaking my concentration by starting a sentence and stopping to talk to me 10 times in 10 minutes.... Then acted like I was the one being difficult.
"Rewinding" your show on DVR because someone was talking-to you(forgot to just pause) or not-or you zoned out or got distracted with other random thoughts.
Just ADD(with OCD, insomnia, GAD, depression and panic disorder) here, but still a pain in the ass.
Load More Replies...I needed pages to have 15 to 30 seconds of content like posts on BP or videos on tiktok
My biggest fear by driving a car. Not sure if this really can happen.
When you don't pay attention in a show and keep rewinding. Same energy
Ugh, this is me but I give upafter reading the same paragraph 25 times.
Sometimes, I done even start because I know it'll take forever to get through a single paragraph...
That is what your finger is for. I don't care how old or smart you are. If you're reading and zoning out, put your finger on the words and go slowly. I would do this sometimes openly in the library as a college senior. Some of those assigned texts are dense!
Every damn day of my life. Wait....what did I just read, dammit, go back....read.
Professor Degges-White, from Northern Illinois University, told us that overthinking can be a product of performance anxiety, making the wrong choice, or past experience. What's more, it can also be the result of a natural tendency to over-analyze things.
"Perfectionists are definitely overthinkers as they worry about minor flaws and what they can do to avoid them. Perfectionists can get tripped up by their need to achieve perfection and focus on the minor details and be unable to fully commit to something, whether it's turning in a project at school or work or committing to a relationship if they feel it or they or their partner isn't 'perfect.'"
The first step in fighting back against our tendencies to overthink and over-analyze things is to realize that we do, in fact, overthink things. "Once you realize you are overthinking things, it's time to tell yourself that 'enough is enough.' Our minds will go where it's comfortable for them to go—and for whatever reason, our brains seem to enjoy worrying a bit."
Professor Degges-White shared some great tricks to get out of the habit of overthinking:
- "Replace the worries of 'what can go wrong' with thoughts about 'what could go well.' Rather than wasting mental energy on negative thinking—especially when it's cyclical and going nowhere—intentionally remind yourself to focus on the positive possibilities.
- Accept that your best effort is enough and that perfection in most things isn't achievable. And that's okay.
- When trying to make a decision, practice going with the first response that comes to mind. Most of us do know what we want to do, but let our heads get tangled up in knots by overthinking the possibilities—just follow your gut and see what happens.
- Set a time for thinking about a problem. When you contain the "space" for overthinking, you give yourself parameters and lose less time in overthinking and deliberating. Some people begin to stop the overthinking well before the timer goes off—they learn that it's not productive."
Professor Degges-White went in-depth with Bored Panda about overthinking during a previous interview as well.
"Most humans do tend to ruminate on the negative things in life. In fact, one research study indicated that we’d need to hear '5 good things' about ourselves to undo the emotional hold from a single 'negative thing' that happened. It’s called the negative bias effect," she told Bored Panda.
"Part of this comes from anxiety related to avoiding making the same mistake in the future, but the more we concentrate on the past error, the more ‘familiar' the error becomes and the more likely we might be to repeat it. Our brain goes where we train it to go,” she explained.
And now I want to go to Brussels to see this thing in person. (Egmont Garden, by Thomas Lerooy)
The professor warned that "if you are too wrapped up in overthinking a situation you may absolutely miss an opportunity." In short, over-analyzing situations can mean that we become blind to the world around us. And that can, in turn, impact our quality of life.
"When we devote all of our mental energy to going through every possible outcome of a decision, there’s a chance that we’re going to talk ourselves out of doing anything, due to the almost magnetic attraction fearful outcomes have with our brains,” she went into detail how overthinking can then lead to us becoming more fearful, more passive.
"Some people are absolutely unable to make a decision, though, because they know—at some level, if not consciously—that by making a decision they have eliminated all other possible pathways,” Professor Degges-White said.
I can't read people for beans. They're a complete enigma. Which means I'll be trying to figure out what you meant, the subtext and tone for days after the conversation. It is why I prefer blunt to sugar coat. i'm never going to read between the lines. At least not accurately.
You got only this much? My mom would buy this world two times if this were an actual job.
“However, they might fail to realize that by _not_ making a decision, they have actually made a decision—and shut down all potential possible outcomes," she said that there is no such thing as not making a decision. Each action or inaction has consequences. Some of which we might not be aware of.
yes! that was the relationship between me and sleep for far too long! : )
"To reduce overthinking, we need to train ourselves to trust our first impressions and instincts—and commit to a decision," she gave some spot-on advice on how to fight back against over-analyzing certain situations. We need to learn to trust our gut instincts more.
I used to sometimes get really worried about scurvy. I'd go out and get an orange and feel like I'd dodged a bullet.
Oh fudgity fudge Why am I on Bored Panda instead of studying? But why am I pressuring myself to study all the time? But if I'm studying all right, then where are the marks? But marks are not important, life is. But if I'm living life, then how am I going to get a job?.....
"We need to recognize that the longer we ponder, the more confused we are likely to get. Thus, we should practice making the decision that feels right and learning from the new behavior. Creating new patterns in who we approach life isn’t always easy, but we can train ourselves to do things differently with practice,” she said.
Me overthinking it all together when going to bed *An airplane with an A-bomb flying above the church*
In the professor’s opinion, overthinking may be tied to the fact that we have more time for leisure than ever before.
“We have a lot more time to think than other generations—when people were super involved in the physical acts required in 'making a living'—when this meant rising early, physical labor all day, and no time for luxuries such as 'creative thought,' 'rumination,' or video game playing or mindless television watching. Life didn’t give space for a lot of overthinking—life was uncertain and you had to act quickly and instinctively, in many cases,” she explained to Bored Panda.
"Overthinking is probably part product of increased leisure time, advances in cognitive complexity, and the ridiculous array of choices that life now presents us. When you had to worry about protecting crops, livestock, feeding a family, and making do with what you had, you don’t have the time worry about the trivial things that modern man has the luxury of overthinking."
me to other ppl: dont think about the problem, think of how to solve it also me: but what if a giant rock fell over my head and killed me
Or if they were returning home to their spouse and kids but they were crushed so their whole family is worried sick
Looking left and right for friends' helps, and up for God's miracle
In that case, I'm living on borrowed time with the rest of the pandas.
Mean while, school nurse: Here's an ice pack for your depression
What do you mean not a big deal? It is a big deal. They said "enjoy your meal" and I said "thanks, you too" now I can never go back to that restaurant. What if I see the person in public?
I um... just saw this in my news feed....um....come to think of it....
I can text easily with close friends, but with somebody I think I am friends and want them to like me this is what I do
This is it right here..... What is that feeling? Just comes & goes
"When you have a conversation with someone and then can't stop replaying it over in your head with how it could've gone better"
HA JOKES ON YOU! I DONT KNOW HOW TO PLAY CHESS! MUAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHAHHAHA
If this is how overthinking is I'm pretty sure i already deep fried my brain.
Wait till you get to the part where you have to CHOOSE what to watch!
Most people think "that little voice in your head" is your concience telling you how to be a good person. My internal voice just reminds me for the eighteen millionth time today that i am going to die (not soon enough) and everyone hates me, but not as much as i hate me.
GoooooD Mythical Morning! Today we are founding out if these thoughts in our minds should make us laugh or cry
Load More Replies...My daughter has ocd. Her overthinking is next level. I feel so bad for her when it's really bad. The connections she makes w something so small that has happened or was said is exhausting for her. The compulsion she has is to tell me about every thought in detail when she's having a particularly hard time. She's getting better though. This was a recent diagnosis and we both felt some relief bc now we can tackle it head on. She has a great therapist and she's getting her dna results back soon ti see what meds will agree w her body. I feel very guilty bc I feel like I passed my anxiety on to her.
I have OCD as well. I can relate to your daughter and I'm glad that you're helping her dealing with it. That alone makes you a good parent. Please know that it is not your fault. No need to feel guilty. We don't know for certain what causes OCD yet and we all have anxietys in our lives sooner or later. All the best to you and your daughter.
Load More Replies...We lost our son in October. I was looking forward to a vacation to flordia with my family. I made a week design bad date for reservations in flordia because my mind is scrambled. I had to reschedule everything which led to a mental break down that everyone would hate me for f*****g up a date. No one..... I mean no one was mad at me. Wtaf brain. Please stop. We have had enough. Oh not to mention the constantly waking up overthinking I'm going to jail for my sons death even though it has already been ruled sids. Like i somehow caused it even after being told i didn't do s**t wrong. I need my brain to shut the f**k up please.
Wait what if the creator of this knows all the responses we write hear because he already thought this far ahead
I overthink enough as it is, add social anxiety (going over everything and thinking why did I say that/why didn't I say this) and ADHD (My brain never shuts down), and it's like I have more thoughts the hour I wake up than most people do in a day.
Please don't pat me down...please don't pat me down. My d**k doesn't know the difference between my hand or yours and I don't want to get an accidental chubby.
Just saw this one on FB-" Trust an over thinker who says they love you. They have, most assuredly, thought of every reason not to." Word porn
Omg I always think stupid stuff like this, or what if I have ten kilos of herion on me lol 😅🐨🇦🇺🦘
These were all awesome. SO glad to know that l'm not the only one who feels like this.
GoooooD Mythical Morning! Today we are founding out if these thoughts in our minds should make us laugh or cry
Load More Replies...My daughter has ocd. Her overthinking is next level. I feel so bad for her when it's really bad. The connections she makes w something so small that has happened or was said is exhausting for her. The compulsion she has is to tell me about every thought in detail when she's having a particularly hard time. She's getting better though. This was a recent diagnosis and we both felt some relief bc now we can tackle it head on. She has a great therapist and she's getting her dna results back soon ti see what meds will agree w her body. I feel very guilty bc I feel like I passed my anxiety on to her.
I have OCD as well. I can relate to your daughter and I'm glad that you're helping her dealing with it. That alone makes you a good parent. Please know that it is not your fault. No need to feel guilty. We don't know for certain what causes OCD yet and we all have anxietys in our lives sooner or later. All the best to you and your daughter.
Load More Replies...We lost our son in October. I was looking forward to a vacation to flordia with my family. I made a week design bad date for reservations in flordia because my mind is scrambled. I had to reschedule everything which led to a mental break down that everyone would hate me for f*****g up a date. No one..... I mean no one was mad at me. Wtaf brain. Please stop. We have had enough. Oh not to mention the constantly waking up overthinking I'm going to jail for my sons death even though it has already been ruled sids. Like i somehow caused it even after being told i didn't do s**t wrong. I need my brain to shut the f**k up please.
Wait what if the creator of this knows all the responses we write hear because he already thought this far ahead
I overthink enough as it is, add social anxiety (going over everything and thinking why did I say that/why didn't I say this) and ADHD (My brain never shuts down), and it's like I have more thoughts the hour I wake up than most people do in a day.
Please don't pat me down...please don't pat me down. My d**k doesn't know the difference between my hand or yours and I don't want to get an accidental chubby.
Just saw this one on FB-" Trust an over thinker who says they love you. They have, most assuredly, thought of every reason not to." Word porn
Omg I always think stupid stuff like this, or what if I have ten kilos of herion on me lol 😅🐨🇦🇺🦘
These were all awesome. SO glad to know that l'm not the only one who feels like this.