A little bit of overthinking is normal—but if it’s constant, it can contribute to issues like anxiety and depression. Overthinking can be a coping mechanism for stress, anxiety, trauma, low ...

Overthinking is a maladaptive strategy to deal with anxiety. You overanalyze an issue to the point where it’s unhelpful and may even be harmful, says Shelly Smith-Acuña, PhD, professor, and dean of ...