Overthinking as a survival strategy
The mind is designed to make sense of things, to fill in the gap, to create meaning.
And there is nothing inherently wrong with this.
The issue arises when there is incomplete survival responses stored in our nervous systems. These incomplete responses are residues of fight/flight/freeze/shutdown responses that were not acted out at the time of danger, as it was unsafe. From then on we cleverly develop survival strategies to be able to carry on with life, while holding these self-protective responses in the body.
It’s then that the mind becomes a safe haven.
That’s why we often retreat into our minds trying to understand what happened, mulling over what was said, obsessively trying to grasp reality, controlling every single detail.
The illusion of control “feels good”, as it brings contrast to the past situations you have had no control over. The situations that forced your body to go into fight/flight/freeze/shutdown.
We humans have over developed this part of ourselves, the mind, and it has become a coping mechanism to avoid feeling the uncomfortable sensations that come from incomplete fight/flight/freeze/shutdown responses stored in the body.
When we don’t “metabolise” these uncomfortable sensations we also end up blocking joy, gratitude, pleasure and all the good sensations that come from positive experiences.
Staying stuck in your head prevents you from fully living, giving and receiving from a deeper level.
In your healing journey be aware of this overthinking and over controlling tendency. Notice these patterns with self compassion.
Practice:
As soon as you notice this tendency coming online;
Pause
Drop into your body, notice the sensations. Use your resources to help you stay in your body.
If you would like to learn more, practically opening yourself up to the opportunity of releasing fight/flight/freeze/shutdown responses “stuck” in your system.
Feel free to join my Open mic somatic healing groups.
They happen once a month on Sundays.
More info here.
