Overthinking often happens when your brain is trying to reduce uncertainty or prevent something from going wrong. Patterns like rumination, reassurance seeking, and avoidance can keep you mentally stuck—even when you’re trying to solve the problem.

Rejection can feel intense because your brain interprets it as a threat to belonging or identity. This can trigger anxiety, overthinking, and avoidance patterns that reinforce the fear over time.

Being hard on yourself can increase anxiety and overthinking because it keeps your brain focused on mistakes and uncertainty. Self-compassion helps interrupt this loop by reducing self-criticism and allowing you to move forward without getting stuck.

Partners often struggle to understand OCD because they see the behaviors but not the internal anxiety driving them. OCD involves intense uncertainty and mental loops that aren’t visible from the outside, which can lead to misunderstandings in relationships.

Read about how learning the art of aerial dance and practicing Radical Acceptance transformed tragedy into inspiration and service for one Chicago therapist.