Image by Arthur Savary

UNDERSTANDING ANXIOUS THINKING

Confident thinkers and anxious thinkers operate very differently. Anxious thinkers fall into the following thinking styles.

Do any of these sound familiar?

OVERWHELM

One of the primary challenges of anxiety is the feeling of being overwhelmed. Overwhelm occurs when a problem feels insurmountable or too big to handle, leaving you unsure of how to break it down into manageable steps. In essence, anxiety can strip away the ability to "cut a problem down to size."

You’ve probably heard the saying, "Eat the elephant one bite at a time." When you're overwhelmed, it feels impossible to take even the first step toward solving the issue.

PREDICTING WORST CASE SCENARIOS AND PLANNING FOR THEM

Anxious thinkers often lean toward catastrophic thinking—deep-seated, negative perspectives that focus on worst-case scenarios. This mindset creates a cycle of fear and doubt, making it difficult to reality-check or reframe thoughts toward more positive possibilities.

DOUBTFUL FEELINGS AND THOUGHTS

Anxiety thrives in uncertainty. Many who experience anxiety find change destabilizing. Without a predictable outcome, doubts about the ability to cope with the unknown emerge. At its core, anxiety is rooted in doubt—the fear of being unable to handle whatever may arise.

This doubt amplifies perceived risks, leading to rumination, overthinking, and a self-perpetuating cycle of stress. Over time, this internal environment can affect both mental and physical well-being.

RUMINATION

Rumination is circular thinking that is not solution based. Ruminators get trapped in thinking the same thoughts over and over, instead of stepping out of one perspective and approaching the problem from varied perspectives. Rumination is futile – without result. On the surface it appears rational, but it leads nowhere and is frustrating and exhausting.

Had Enough? Start taking back control today.