Overthinking, the word that is used constantly in the today’s atmosphere but always mistaken as something that carries little weight to one’s mind.
Though this term, this word, can be detrimental to one’s mental and emotional being, especially in the college atmosphere. Thoughts can spiral carrying into day-to-day tasks, interfering with simple activities.
To clarify, overthinking is putting too much time into analyzing thoughts in a way that can become more harmful than helpful. Similar with anything in life, there is a fine line between good and bad.
Tunnel Vision
Thinking in moderate ways, it can help bring clarity to accomplishing tasks or understanding situations more clearly. In a rather more negative sense, overthinking can hinder your ability to concentrate and complete what you planned to do. To validate certain situations that can happen from overthinking, they can range from procrastinating homework assignments to feeling anxiety. Also, can hinder your ability to focus in class. Whether you are bombarded with random thoughts that could or could not even pertain to the course.
NCC’s two-time NCAA wrestling champion Robbie Precin, ’24, shared his thoughts on overthinking.
“The things that I overthink about are class assignments and wrestling. Especially being an athlete, it’s hard to not overthink about being successful. You want to be the best at what you’re doing and overthinking can get in the way,” said Precin.
This helps validate that it is rather common to overthink, especially in young adults. The emotional standpoint that can be caused as an after effect may also help give recognition to how overthinking can occur or what can stem from it as well. This would be stress, anxiety, and worrying.
NCC student Julian Valtierrez,’25, on the men’s wrestling team gave his personal view.
“I do struggle with overthinking and sometimes I don’t. It depends on the situation I’m in.” Valtierrez continues, “I’d say it gives me anxiety and stress throughout the whole day. It can lead to a poor grade since I couldn’t think clearly when doing the assignment.”
It’s More Common Than You Think
The American Institute of Stress said that 61 percent of college students go to counseling for anxiety, depression, academic performance…etc. That is a high number for those who are open about their mental health. Many students do not always share their struggles or internal stressors they experience.
To break down that percentage 6 out of 10 college students experience anxiety. NCC, there were 10 students selected to give insight with how they feel experiencing overthinking and anxiety.
All 10 NCC students said yes to having their own moments of overthinking.
Janessa George, ’27, on the women’s wrestling team had insightful thoughts to add. “It affects getting my tasks done because I feel like the longer I hold off on it, I’ll end up gaining motivation to get it done on another day.” George continues, “But when I try to do work on that same day, I tend to get lost in thought. Then I take a while to comprehend my work and answer the questions which leads me to get frustrated. Giving up and doing it another day.” Explaining that the cycle continues.
When looking at how most college students’ function, it can be believed that George’s cycle is very similar to the blueprint of what other students do too.
Raygn Jordan, ’24, a student-athlete on the women’s lacrosse team shared George’s view regarding procrastination, “The more I overthink the more I procrastinate because I get overwhelmed and then can’t bring myself to do anything. I also normally overthink the starting point of a task and then I can’t get myself to begin the task.” said Jordan.
Though answers varied, they held the same undertone of feeling the same way. This is not meant to be bleak but to bring awareness to the daily struggles some if not most college students deal with.
Being conscious of this widespread occurrence now opens the door to resources that can help.
Assisting The Brain
Healthline, Headspace, and NCC’s very own Dyson Wellness Center, are great assistors to use when you are overwhelmed and feel stressed out.
Healthline is a website that offers tools to recenter your thoughts when stuck in thought after thought cycle. To name a few, stop to think of the bigger picture, focus on your breathing, mediate, recognizing your negative thoughts, acknowledge your accomplishments, and find a distraction.
“I try to stay in the present moment is by meditating, going for a wrestling workout or even give a phone call to someone I trust which is my family.” Valtierrez said.
George adds, “To help relieve stress would be listening to music that calms me and going out with friends to the Wentz Science Center.”
Mediation, talking with family, working out, and listening to music are great ways to remain present and find motivation to get tasks done.
Healthline goes into how to use these strategies, giving ideas to center yourself and focus on in the moment tasks. This was very helpful to read from an outside perspective that students should take the time to absorb information given if they find themselves to be overwhelmed.
Precin gave his perspective with stopping a spiral of thoughts. “I feel like if you do anything that has nothing to do with what you’re overthinking about, it can give you a bigger perspective on life and it won’t feel like your world isn’t ending. I try to tell myself to not be afraid to fail, and to be afraid of not trying.”
Trapped Thinking
The next article that more or less validates overthinking is Headspace. It follows Dinsa Sachan, the journalist going over health concerns she was experiencing and focusing on the worst possible diagnosis she could have.
Sachan goes on to spin the story that her worst enemy was Sachan thoughts. How they persisted to make her lose focus on the positive; when she spoke to her doctor, Sachan was recommended medicine and was back to feeling healthy within a week. “This wasn’t the first time I had succumbed to the trap of overthinking.” Sachan said.
Dinsa Sachan helped validate the scares overthinking can have on someone and explains in her article how and why this can happen.
This follows into North Central College’s on campus resources.
On Campus Support
The Dyson Wellness Center offers medical and counseling services. They have 24/7 scheduling or emergency communications for when things go wrong if students need to talk.
They offer support for academic struggles, anxiety, stress, and more. Dyson helps students at NCC be able to decompress and unravel their stressors which is a great tool to use. This is a built-in support system that many students should use whether they need to or not, but so they know and understand how the system works.
Overthinking is not always a negative thing to experience; neither is stress or anxiety. It is a part of the human experience. However, when it happens continuously, it is good to know that you are not alone and that there are resources to help.
Everyone has their struggles whether they bring them to light or keep those problems close. Know you are not alone and there is always help available when you feel your struggles become too heavy to carry. Overthinking can hinder one’s mind, but the support you have from your peers and resources will always offer help and guidance.
