Do you constantly replay conversations or worry you said the wrong thing? Here’s what might be going on.
Hi, I’m Dr. Tom McDonagh and I’m a psychologist, at Good Therapy SF. And if you second guess everything, it’s not just a quirk, it often has deeper roots in anxiety or low self-esteem.
So one point to consider is that your brain is trying to protect you. Second-guessing is a way of scanning for mistakes before they happen, or punishing yourself after they do to prevent you from doing it in the future.
It often comes from old experiences of being judged or misunderstood. And maybe you learn from the past that it was not safe to just be yourself, so now your mind is on constant alert to prevent that from happening again.
You can also start to interrupt this pattern with a small question. Try asking:
“Is this helpful or just familiar thinking?”
That simple pause helps you shift from fear to clarity.
So therapy can help you build trust in your instincts. And quiet that inner critic. Reach out to us if you’re interested in more.
