Are you an “Over-Thinker?” — Self-Assessment

This assessment aims to look at some universal patterns of excessive thinking and the impact it has on your life. No answers are right or wrong — it is all for informational purposes to help you inquire into your own habits and behavior and determine if it is something working in your favor or not. This assessment is not a formal diagnosis of any mental health issue.

1) Do you have difficulty making decisions?

1) Always 2) Often 3) Sometimes 4) Rarely 5) Never

2) Do you relive interactions with others over and over in your mind?

1) Always 2) Often 3) Sometimes 4) Rarely 5) Never

3) Do you have difficulty falling asleep because you are thinking about something you, or someone, said or did?

1) Always 2) Often 3) Sometimes 4) Rarely 5) Never

4) Do you rehash conversations?

1) Always 2) Often 3) Sometimes 4) Rarely 5) Never

5) Do you get overwhelmed making plans so end up doing nothing?

1) Always 2) Often 3) Sometimes 4) Rarely 5) Never

6) If someone asks to speak with you, do you expect the worst?

1) Always 2) Often 3) Sometimes 4) Rarely 5) Never

7) Do you overanalyze personal relationships to the extent that staying single is just easier?

1) Always 2) Often 3) Sometimes 4) Rarely 5) Never

8) Do you second-guess purchasing decisions so often return things?

1) Always 2) Often 3) Sometimes 4) Rarely 5) Never

9) Do you suspect that someone's seemingly innocent remark is, actually, ill-intentioned?

1) Always 2) Often 3) Sometimes 4) Rarely 5) Never

10) Do you consider "Pros and Cons" lists oversimplified, inadequate and not useful?

1) Always 2) Often 3) Sometimes 4) Rarely 5) Never

11) Do you have difficulty focusing on what people are saying because your are busy with your thoughts?

1) Always 2) Often 3) Sometimes 4) Rarely 5) Never

12) Do you ruminate on things you think you should have done differently?

1) Always 2) Often 3) Sometimes 4) Rarely 5) Never

13) Do you berate yourself for things you did or didn't do?

1) Always 2) Often 3) Sometimes 4) Rarely 5) Never

14) Do you think through future scenarios with fear? Example - "What if this or that happens..?"

1) Always 2) Often 3) Sometimes 4) Rarely 5) Never

15) Do you dwell on mistakes you've made?

1) Always 2) Often 3) Sometimes 4) Rarely 5) Never

16) Do you consider yourself to be highly self-aware?

1) Always 2) Often 3) Sometimes 4) Rarely 5) Never

17) Do you feel your perspective on things is different from others?

1) Always 2) Often 3) Sometimes 4) Rarely 5) Never

18) Do you like to, "read between the lines?”

1) Always 2) Often 3) Sometimes 4) Rarely 5) Never

19) Are you either ruminating about the past or worrying about the future?

1) Always 2) Often 3) Sometimes 4) Rarely 5) Never

20) Do you have difficulty falling asleep because your brain won't shut off?

1) Always 2) Often 3) Sometimes 4) Rarely 5) Never

Results: If you frequently answered "Always" or "Often" to these questions then you are not alone. Research suggests that approximately 73% of 25-to-35-year-olds and 52% of 45-to-55-year-olds chronically feel stressed or overwhelmed by their thoughts at any given time.

But —

If you rarely experience relief from your excessive thinking and find that driving at solutions to your task of thinking is so burdensome that it takes away from your enjoyment and pleasure in your own life in the here and now, then seeking therapeutic help may be right for you.

My goal, and mission, with Spiral Mind Psychotherapy, LLC is to help you discover, uncover and recover your greatest strength of deep-thinking. That is, your innate specialness that makes you a thoughtful, insightful, observant and sensitive person. I know you know you are.

And I know too!

I believe that brewing under your tendency to “over-think” is a stressful and likely complex history of Adverse Childhood Experiences — such as disappointments, let-downs and neglected nurturing events — that all want, and merit, attention.

I believe that in nurturing and healing your history of adverse experiences you grow in self-trust, self-worth and self-love which then gives you the power to use your strong mind to make real, important and life-changing decisions. Both for yourself and for the world.

We need more deep-thinkers in the world!

People who think outside the box, dream up innovation, explore new ideas and pursue difficult questions are the change-agents of the future. And we need some change.

Is “Over-Thinking” a Superpower?