Analysis paralysis is a common habit of the modern mind. Many of us are so used to it that we don’t even realize that we’re doing it. Difficulty focusing, zoning out or spacing out, feeling drained; these are some of the effects of overthinking.
Another major problem that overthinking leads to is systemic inflammation. And systemic inflammation is at the heart of many of our modern health emergencies: chronic pain, heart disease, autoimmune disease, addiction.
In an effort to not overthink we can try meditation, prayer, exercise, drugs, alcohol and relaxation (which is mostly getting our minds off of our typical lines of thought).
One benefit to overthinking is that it acts as a buffer between you and your emotions. Although it’s not really such a helpful buffer in the long run. When we overthink we create tension in the spinal cord.
Overthinking, instead of feeling, leads to a tension that builds in the spinal cord at the level of C2 (the upper neck). You’ll see extreme examples of this in people with a flat neck or what’s called a ‘military neck’.
During your regular visits, when we’re touching your upper neck, this Is one of those tensions in the spinal cord that we’re helping your body find, readjust and release.
When there is less tension in the spinal cord at that level, you tend to be more in tune with your body and emotions. You breathe more deeply and fully.
Another major shift happens when you switch from high tension (where you’re trying to control life), to low tension (when you’re allowing life to unfold).
When we can learn to allow rather than overthink and control, we can help strengthen the body’s natural healing and recovery process.
So maybe the next time you have a pain or symptom, after you’re done asking yourself “why do I have this?”, take in a deep breath and allow yourself to be where you are.