Beyond The Swinging Watch - Hypnosis and Psychology in Everyday Life

Overthinking is where individuals dwell excessively on situations, problems, or potential outcomes. While occasional reflection and planning can be productive, overthinking becomes a problem when it leads to stress, indecision, and emotional exhaustion. In its extreme form, overthinking can create a mental loop where the same thoughts repeat endlessly without resolution, trapping people in a cycle of worry, doubt, and anxiety. The Effects of Overthinking When overthinking becomes chronic, it can have negative consequences on both mental and physical well-being. Here are some key effects: 1. Increased Anxiety: Overthinking amplifies worries and negative thoughts, which can fuel anxiety. Instead of focusing on solutions, people caught in the habit of overthinking tend to fixate on worst-case scenarios, creating feelings of fear and dread about the future. 2. Indecision and Paralysis: Over-analysing every possible outcome can lead to "analysis paralysis." This is the inability...

Being "triggered" refers to experiencing an intense emotional or physical reaction, often linked to past trauma, when exposed to certain stimuli. These stimuli, known as "triggers," can vary widely and may include specific sounds, smells, places, or even words that remind a person of their previous painful experiences.  When someone is triggered, their mind and body react as if they are re-experiencing that trauma, even if they are not consciously aware of the connection. This can manifest as anxiety, panic attacks, anger, or other intense emotional responses. How Triggers Develop When someone experiences trauma, their brain sometimes stores the memory of the event in an altered way, especially if it wasn't properly processed at the time. The brain remains hyper-vigilant, scanning the environment for any sign of danger that resembles a traumatic event. This leads to seemingly innocuous stimuli becoming triggers, bringing back the emotions, thoughts, and physical...