What Triggers Overthinking? Discover the Hidden Causes

Overthinking: A Habit You Might Not Even Realize You're In

Honestly, we’ve all been there, right? Lying awake at night, your mind racing with thoughts about something that happened earlier in the day or something that might happen tomorrow. The constant replaying of a conversation, the second-guessing of every decision, and the endless “what ifs.” But have you ever stopped to think about why you do this? What triggers overthinking in the first place?

Well, I can tell you, it’s not always just about being stressed or anxious, though those are major factors. Overthinking is a habit—a pattern your brain falls into. And understanding what triggers it can help you break free from the cycle. Let’s dive in.

Stress and Anxiety: The Usual Culprits

Why Stress Makes Us Overthink

Honestly, stress is probably the biggest trigger of overthinking. I mean, think about it. When you’re stressed, your brain goes into survival mode. You're constantly thinking about what needs to be done, how you can fix things, or what might go wrong. That constant chatter in your head? It's just stress trying to manage every possible outcome.

I remember a time when I was preparing for an important work presentation. I was so stressed that I couldn’t stop overthinking every tiny detail—how I’d present each slide, what my boss might think, what questions I might get. I felt like I was spiraling into a rabbit hole, and the more I tried to stop, the worse it got. It wasn’t until I learned to manage my stress through deep breathing and breaks that I could actually focus and calm my mind.

The Role of Anxiety in Overthinking

Now, anxiety plays a major role, too. When you're anxious, your brain tends to focus on worst-case scenarios. This “what if” thinking can easily evolve into overthinking, where you continuously replay situations, fixate on possible outcomes, and convince yourself that something bad will happen.

A recent conversation with my friend Jenna got me thinking about this. She told me how her anxiety made her constantly overthink social situations. She’d spend hours worrying about how she came across to others, questioning every word she said. I could relate, as I’ve been there, too—overthinking every text message I send, wondering if I said the wrong thing.

Lack of Control: Feeling Helpless

Overthinking When You Feel Out of Control

Well, this one is huge, and I can totally relate to it. When we feel like we have no control over a situation, our brains tend to spiral into overthinking. It’s almost like your mind is trying to find something—anything—that you can control.

Think about the last time you were in a situation where you had no say in the outcome. Maybe it was a job interview, a health issue, or a difficult relationship. I know when I’ve been in those situations, I’ve found myself trying to predict every possible outcome, looking for ways to gain control, even though I couldn’t do anything about it.

The more you feel powerless, the more your brain tries to compensate by thinking about every detail, even though it’s not going to help.

Perfectionism: The Desire to Get Everything Just Right

How Perfectionism Feeds Overthinking

Okay, so this one hits home for me. If you’re a perfectionist (or even if you just tend to be a little perfectionistic), then overthinking might be your default mode. You constantly worry about whether things are perfect, whether your actions align with the highest standards, and whether people will judge you for not being flawless. Perfectionism creates a never-ending cycle where you're never satisfied with your work or your decisions, leading to more overthinking.

Honestly, I’ve spent way too many hours tweaking a presentation, rewriting emails, or analyzing a decision over and over again, simply because I couldn’t let go of the idea that it wasn’t perfect. It’s exhausting, right?

I had a chat with my colleague Sarah about this just last week. She was telling me how she had to prepare a report for her boss, but she couldn’t stop obsessing over the smallest details. "What if I missed something?" "What if I get it wrong?" It’s the kind of thinking that can paralyze you, making it difficult to move forward.

Social Media and External Pressure

How Social Media Triggers Overthinking

Mouais, social media. This is a big one, and we all know it. It’s like the breeding ground for overthinking. You scroll through your feed, and you start comparing your life to others. You wonder if you’re doing enough, if you’re measuring up to the highlight reels of everyone else’s life. It’s almost as if the pressure to live up to these curated versions of reality makes your brain go into overdrive.

I’ve definitely fallen into this trap. After seeing someone’s perfect vacation photos or reading about someone’s career success, I’d think, “What am I doing with my life? Should I be doing more?” This type of thinking leads to overanalyzing everything about your own life, your choices, and your next steps.

The Pressure to Always Be Productive

And let’s not forget about this weird modern pressure to always be on, always productive, always achieving. When you feel like you’re not living up to these expectations, overthinking can kick in, making you question your worth or progress.

Conclusion: Breaking the Cycle of Overthinking

Honestly, overthinking isn’t just something you can “stop” with a snap of your fingers, but understanding what triggers it is the first step. Whether it’s stress, anxiety, lack of control, perfectionism, or social pressures, there’s always a reason behind the thoughts spiraling in your head. And once you can identify those triggers, you can start working on strategies to manage them.

It’s going to take time, but you can start by practicing mindfulness, breaking tasks into smaller pieces, and learning to let go of perfectionism. I’ve found that the more I understand why I’m overthinking, the easier it is to stop it from taking over.

So, the next time you catch yourself spiraling, take a step back, breathe, and remember: overthinking is just a habit. And habits can be changed.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.