One of the cognitive difficulties that individuals frequently encounter in daily life but often turn into an internal state without realizing it, is the tendency to think too much. This condition, also known as “overthinking”, not only makes it difficult for individuals to make decisions or communicate, but also directly or indirectly affects emotional and physical well-being. Nowadays, psychological literature aims to go beyond such cognitive symptoms and reach the invisible part of the iceberg. The main purpose of this article is to address past traumatic experiences and attachment traumas as one of the possible causes of overthinking.
Clinical Perspective of Overthinking
In psychological evaluations, “overthinking” often overlaps with concepts such as rumination or obsessive thoughts. Ruminative thinking is characterized by repetitive, difficult-to-control mental processes related to a past event or a negative situation that is likely to occur in the future (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2000). This way of thinking often fails to improve the problem-solving ability of individuals; on the contrary, it becomes a cycle that consumes mental energy and renders individuals dysfunctional in the present moment.
Being prone to overthinking creates anxiety and indecision, which is a result of high levels of anxiety in individuals. The constant fear of being misunderstood in social environments, the feeling of need for approval, or the inability to cope with uncertainties about the future are among the behavioral reflections of this tendency. For instance, behaviors such as checking a message several times before sending it, replaying what was said after a bilateral conversation, or having difficulty in making a new decision are important in terms of the effects of overthinking on daily life.
The Link Between Traumas and Cognitive Processes
Overthinking may be caused not only by stress factors encountered in current life, but also by traumatic experiences in the past. Especially in childhood, experiences such as inconsistent parenting attitudes, physical or verbal violence shape the attachment style of the individual and this plays a decisive role on cognitive processes in adulthood (Van der Kolk, 2014).
Traumatic experiences damage the basic sense of trust that individuals have about the world. This lack of trust leads individuals to evaluate all kinds of external stimulus factors as a potential threat and to be constantly mentally alert in order to anticipate possible harms. The aforementioned situation is defined as “hypervigilance” and is mostly observed in individuals diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the clinical setting.
When cognitive processes become alarmed, this leads to an intense mental effort even in the face of everyday events that can be considered as simple. Thus, the effort to think, analyze and control ceases to be a functional tool and turns into an emotional avoidance and security strategy.
Attachment Problems and Overthinking
When evaluated within the scope of attachment theory, the quality of the relationships established with early caregivers determines the basic assumptions of individuals both about themselves and others. The patterns of this theory exist in three different forms as secure attachment, anxious attachment, and fearful-avoidant by Psychologist Mary Ainsworth (Bağlanma Kuramı – Boylam Psikiyatri Hastanesi, n.d.).
For example, individuals with insecure attachment styles may feel the need for regular approval in their close relationships in their adult lives, and may perceive even the smallest uncertainties as threats. This results in cognitive tendencies such as frequent analysis, interpretation of the other person’s behavior, or attempts to read intentions.
At this point, overthinking can also be considered as a reflection of relational traumas. Individuals try to control every detail and predict possibilities in their minds in order to compensate for their past experiences of “not being safe.” However, this mental effort can often lead to re-traumatization by increasing relational stress.
Consequences in Everyday Life
It is possible to observe that overthinking is not only an internal process but also has many behavioral and emotional consequences in daily life. Individuals who are drowning in their thoughts often have difficulty in making decisions and feel intensely worried about making mistakes. They are very careful and controlled when expressing themselves in their environments, which makes it difficult to establish sincere and spontaneous relationships.
Similarly, in business life, individuals who frequently analyze due to detail-orientation, perfectionism, and fear of making mistakes may have difficulty in time management. Therefore, both their work performance and professional satisfaction may be negatively affected. Insomnia, mental fatigue, and difficulty in focusing are also among the physical consequences of overthinking.
Psychological Intervention and Recovery Process
Being prone to overthinking is a manageable condition when appropriate psychological interventions are applied and necessary awareness is developed. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is considered to be an effective method, especially in the process of recognizing and restructuring ruminative thoughts. Nevertheless, psychodynamic approaches or attachment-focused therapies that address past traumas can provide a more in-depth healing by reaching the root causes.
Rebuilding emotional security and gaining intrinsic motivation will improve not only the mental processes but also the quality of life of individuals. The experience of judgment-free rest, an environment where emotions are accepted, and relationships built around trust are likely to reduce mental alertness over time.
Conclusion
Overthinking can be seen not only as a mental habit, but mostly as a result of past and unresolved traumatic experiences. In particular, attachment traumas can shape individuals’ perception of basic trust both towards themselves and their environment, causing mental stages to become highly controlling and anxiety-oriented.
However, this cycle can be transformed through supportive therapeutic processes, awareness, and safe relationships. Traumas may have occurred in the past, but their impact on present life can be reduced by appropriate psychological interventions. Thus, there may be a chance to turn towards the freedom of meaning rather than the burden of thought.
References
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Bağlanma Kuramı – Boylam Psikiyatri Hastanesi. (n.d.). Boylam Psikiyatri Hastanesi – Ankara – İstanbul. Retrieved May 28, 2025, from https://www.boylampsikiyatri.com/baglanma-kurami/
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Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2000). The role of rumination in depressive disorders and mixed anxiety/depressive symptoms. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 109(3), 504–511.
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Van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.