Anxiety and overthinking happen when your mind keeps focusing on worries and “what if” thoughts. It can feel hard to stop, but there are simple ways to manage it.

Start with your breathing. Take slow breaths in and out. This helps calm your body and reduces stress.

Try to focus on the present moment. Look around you and notice what you see, hear, or feel. This helps stop your mind from going in circles.

Question your thoughts. Ask yourself if what you are thinking is really true or just a worry. Most of the time, overthinking is based on fear, not facts.

Keep yourself busy with small tasks like walking, cleaning, or listening to music. This helps shift your attention away from negative thoughts.

Also, sleep well, drink enough water, and avoid too much caffeine. These small habits can make a big difference.

If anxiety feels too strong or happens often, talking to a mental health professional can really help.

When one invest too much of themselves in their thoughts, the thoughts seem to be more real than life itself. June Bennett is right that the anxiety is caused by being focused on worries. And follows up with a method to change that. James123 over simplifies it but is also right. Alessa has the most compassion.

To me Overthinking and Anxiety are caused by identifying too much with one’s thoughts. So much so that the those thoughts and stresses become a reflex reaction to life. They become the reflex reaction to almost any situation. The person must learn to control their thoughts and actions to change the reaction. Otherwise the default reaction is to worry. Begin by stopping yourself. Stop worrying. Make plans. Create action plans which lead you on the right path.