If you have ADHD, you probably know the feeling: your brain just won’t stop. Thoughts race, ideas pile up, and before you know it, you’re lying awake at 2 AM replaying that awkward thing you said in 2017.
Let’s talk about it — with some humor, of course!
The Overthinking Spiral
It usually starts small:
💭 Did I lock the door?
💭 Should I have worded that email differently?
💭 What if my friend is mad at me?
💭 Maybe I should switch careers.
Suddenly, I’ve written a mental novel of worst-case scenarios. And sleep? Forget it.
ADHD + Overthinking = The Perfect Storm
People often think ADHD means a distracted mind — but it can also mean hyperfocused worry.
👉 One little concern can turn into an epic mental deep-dive.
👉 I can’t just think it — I have to analyze it, rethink it, and then analyze it again.
👉 And sometimes, I get stuck thinking instead of doing.
What Helps Me Hit the Brakes
Overthinking isn’t easy to stop, but here’s what I’m trying:
✅ Write it down. I keep a “worry notebook” by my bed — it helps get thoughts out of my head.
✅ Set a timer. I allow myself 5 minutes to think about it, then move on.
✅ Talk it out. Saying it out loud to a friend often makes the worry shrink.
✅ Mindfulness apps. A quick breathing exercise can work wonders.
Why I’m Learning to Laugh at It
Yes, ADHD brains can overthink everything. But they’re also creative, thoughtful, and full of ideas.
So if I’m going to lie awake imagining what I should have said during a meeting, I may as well laugh about it — and maybe write a blog post!
