Are you still thinking about that awkward thing you said? Well, let’s break that cycle.
I’m Dr. Tom McDonough from Good Therapy SF, and I’m going to help you stop overanalyzing past conversations.
One way to stop overanalyzing past conversations, is to do something we call a reality check. Remind yourself that very often people forget the conversations that you’re obsessing about. They’re not thinking about it nearly as often as you are.
Another tip to try is cognitive reframing. It’s basically where you rewrite the script in your mind. Ask yourself: what’s the worst that happened there? And did anyone really react as badly as I’m telling myself they did?
Another key tip to try is mindfulness. When you catch yourself thinking about that past conversation, focus on your breathing instead. And using that present centered experience can help become more focused on the present instead of the past.
Try to have a form of self compassion. Ask yourself, would you judge a friend as critically as you’re judging yourself? Probably not. Extend to yourself the same courtesy that you extend to others.
Lastly, sometimes we really just can’t stop ruminating on something in the moment. But what you cando is set some type of limit. Say, give yourself five minutes to think about it and then when that five minutes up is up, really give yourself the opportunity to move on or distract yourself with something else.
So if you’re interested in more of these tips or other ways to try to stop overanalyzing past conversations, please feel free to reach out to us here at Good Therapy SF.
