Are You an Overthinker [QUIZ]

The test below is not a diagnostic tool and is provided for educational purposes only. Please seek professional help if you have any concerns.

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Do you second-guess your decisions?
Often
Sometimes
Rarely
Never

Do you relive embarrassing moments in your mind over and over?
Often
Sometimes
Rarely
Never

Do you lie in bed sleepless, obsessing over something you or someone else has said or done?
Often
Sometimes
Rarely
Never

Do you rehash conversations?
Always
Often
Rarely
Never

Do you imagine disastrous outcomes?
Daily
Occasionally
Rarely
Never

Your heart sinks when your boss calls you.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Disagree

You overanalyze your personal relationships to the point that you are afraid of an emotional connection with another person.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Disagree

Do you regret your purchasing decisions?
Often
Sometimes
Rarely
Never

Do you suspect that someone’s seemingly innocent remark was, in fact, ill-intentioned?
Often
Sometimes
Rarely
Never

You get stuck weighing the pros and cons to the point of being unable to decide.
Agree completely
Agree
Agree slightly
Disagree

Do you feel that people around you constantly disappoint you?
A lot
Moderately
Somewhat
Not at all

Are you so busy with your thoughts that you can’t focus on the person in front of you?
Often
Sometimes
Occasionally
Never

Do you ruminate about how your life could have been better if you had done things differently?
A lot
Moderately
Somewhat
Not at all

You live in a state of constant worry.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Disagree

You always try to read between the lines.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Disagree

Do you dwell on unpleasant experiences?
Often
Sometimes
Occasionally
Never

You are either ruminating about the past or worried about the future.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Disagree

Do you have difficulty sleeping because your brain won’t shut off?
Often
Sometimes
Occasionally
Never

Do you bring up the same topic every time you are with your trusted friend?
Often
Sometimes
Occasionally
Never

You constantly research subjects you are concerned about.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Disagree

GET RESULTS

Above 40:

Your score suggests that you are a chronic overthinker, and you may be spending most of your waking time ruminating about things. Being an overthinker is incredibly stressful and exhausting. On top of that, it may increase your risk of mental illness.

As an overthinker, you are probably hard on yourself, constantly criticizing yourself and picking yourself apart.

You drive yourself insane with “what if” questions, never actually answering them.

You spend so much time in your head that you feel that life is passing you by.

You may already have physical and psychological symptoms, such as insomnia, anxiety, and depression.

While thinking about things in depth can be a useful thing to do, overthinking and overanalyzing lead to hesitation and inaction.

Past a certain stage, overthinking becomes counterproductive. You may have difficulty making decisions, and it may strain your relationships.

To overcome your habit of overthinking, try the following:

1. Replace negative thoughts with completely unrelated positive thoughts. Stopping thoughts doesn’t work very well, but replacing thoughts, on the other hand, is very effective.

2. Try distracting activities, such as going for a walk, going to the gym, organizing your kitchen or closet, etc.

3. Try breathing exercises for relaxation.

4. Try self-hypnosis downloads: Stop Thinking So Much and Stop Analysis Paralysis [i].

5. Write your thoughts down in a journal. Dumping things on paper can help clear your mind and relieve rumination.

6. Get busy.

Sometimes people overthink and ruminate because they have too much time on their hands. It’s like an empty vacuum that has to be filled with something.

The trick is to not allow this vacuum in the first place. Try to fill it with other things and activities. Do something instead of spending all the time in your head.

7. Work with a therapist.

20-39

Your score doesn’t suggest that you have a serious overthinking problem, but you do sometimes get stuck in negative thinking patterns. Or it may be that you overthink one particular area of your life but not the other areas. At this stage, the ruminating habit may interfere with your life, and it’s a good idea to consider the advice above.

0-19

You may overthink a few things once in a while, but you aren’t a chronic overthinker. However, no online test is 100 percent accurate, and if your ruminating feels disruptive, it’s a good idea to seek help from a therapist. In addition, you can employ the strategies suggested for chronic overthinking (see above).

How to Stop Ruminating at Night and Feel Rested Again