Well, there are various definitions of overthinking such as

https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/overthink

Think about (something) too much or for too long.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/overthinking

the action of thinking about something too much, in a way that is not useful

Now what determines that you're thinking too long or too much? I assume it's undesirable or inferior outcome of doing it (but undesirable to whom? Person thinking, people affected or unaffected by them doing it?).Perhaps overthinking is simply inadequacy of outcome in terms fulfilling your objective compared what person would consider superior or adequate one if person spent less time thinking.

Assuming I'm overthinking (what I call simply thinking thoroughly, as I would say it's aligned with one of my objectives of understanding), I doesn't really feel like anything, I just do it, it's somewhat like breathing, you don't realize you do it until you start thinking about you doing it (just like you made me now).

About what I think, whatever caught my attention some concept or situation (from that of an individual to universal, fictional or not) from various topics.

 

@NagatoUzumaki Damn this really broke you didn't it? You gonna be ok?

 

What broke me (something you wrote in your post?) and in what manner? Given latter question is likely contextual to former one, you would need to explain what you meant by that question.

 

1. Overthinking for me is just another word for rumination. Not being present. Thinking about the past and future without taking action in the now. Analysis paralysis. Focused on the problem and its root causes instead of thinking about the solution. Usually involves repeating thought processes about something. Not problem solving. Blah blah blah, something along those lines. Tends to be anxiety induced.

Not to be confused with speculation, brainstorming, refining ideas, calculating, stuff like that... all of which can lead to extended periods of deep thought.

2. Overthinking pushes me toward mental and emotional exhaustion. It also tends to feel more like muddled thinking, wading through thick mud looking for something that isn't defined or helpful. I slow down, get lethargic and stuffsthings.

3. Bleh. I overthink typical anxiety/regret/guilt/shame stuff. Can range a wide span of topics, but they're all somehow tied to negative emotion, neuroticism.

4. I think that if you were to establish a clear framework for what overthinking is and then map out the sixteen types and their proneness to overthinking, then you wouldn't be finished. I'd see problems in linking tendencies in overthinking behavior to MBTI since no clear link can be demonstrated between the two of them without also accounting for a smorsgabord of other flavors- er, factors. I'm thinking in this situation, you'd actually find more reliable data going off of Big 5's measurements on neuroticism than merely MBTI. But let's just say... XXXX-T (16personalities' turbulent) types will all tend toward overthinking and ruminate more than an INFP-A would. I have no evidence to back up this claim. I'm just awesome like that.

But no really:

INFPs would have to contend with high Ne and high Ni for overthinking. xNxP and xNxJ. Maybe high Si, Ne stress as well, but not so much contest there.

 

For me anxiety leads to overthinking. Overthinking is a symptom of my nervous mind, caused by unfortunate life events. To make matters worse I am loaded with Ne and can think of 1000 possible outcomes to something that hasn’t even happened. Finally, I am the poster child for self-preservation and I’m always thinking about my survival.

 

It can be getting way to distracted from the things I need to do, or want to do, mulling over some problem that isn't really a priority at that exact time.
It can be a problem or issue that is a priority, but I don't get to the point of it because I overthink, see too many of the less probable scenarios, too many of the less relevant perspectives, and it becomes a bit to much for me to get a good grasp of after a while, so that I can't see clearly and wade through possibilities, unable to choose one to go forward with.
It can be thinking about things over and over, even though I have decided on a conclusion (often being that I can't solve the problem, and must learn to accept that), turning over every little coin hoping to find a microscopic key that might solve things, or not even hoping for that, but just itching on a scar that never get to heal properly, over and over.

What makes it overthinking rather than just thinking a lot is when it makes me feel bad without leading to anything good, or when it is too timeconsuming, so that other things in my life suffer too much, or when the thinking clouds things (from too many aspects, choices, above what my mind can handle and weed out the path forward from). Thinking a lot about something when I have time and find some random thing interesting isn't a problem, or when I really have a problem that needs solving and let that problem occupy my mind and analyse it from many angles, even if it makes me feel bad, as it needs to be done.

Feelingswise it is often anxiety involved, but can also be loss, or shame or guilt. Sometimes also positive feelings, getting exited and using all the energy on puking up a million possibilities and then not having any left to sift through them, any less doing anything.

 

Overthinking can be ruminating obsessively over a problem that has no solution, or over which I have no control. Or it could be thinking through a solvable problem and coming up with solutions but then getting stuck with being unable to execute and circling back to the thinking process again.

It can also be obsessing about something to the point that it interferes with my ability to enjoy things.

I try my best to stop the loop by asking "Is this helping anything?"

If my thinking might eventually lead to a solution I will allow it to continue. But if my answer to the question is "no" I will absorb myself in something that will distract my thought process (something productive like yard or housework, or something escapist like reading fiction or playing online games or reading stuff online).

Oftentimes just breaking the thought loop is enough to reset my brain away from overthinking.

 

Overthinking..

feels like a headache.

gets me nowhere.

is something I often do because I don't have the answer to a problem. Broadly-an example specifically: Finance-carrer path, Society-how would I engage in conversation with someone who interests I find wholly uninteresting?

is something INFPs do more than other types. Inferior Te. Maybe not the ISFJs. Currently debating that.

 

I tend to think of overthinking as willfully trying to make bad things happen in your head.

 

I didn't notice the barber had that colonel Sanders beard/whisk thing in his hand and he got me in an open eye. Who the f, starts whisking at the eyes!? Start at the cheek, gimme the split second I need to close my eyes.

I thought for sure I'd be dead by now. Maybe I am, and I'm typing into space thinking everyone can see this a la Bruce Willis.

 

How's your eye?

 

It's fine. Always was. But, it's early... you can see my text, so that's good.

 

But the question is, for how much longer can you?

 

INFP's can overthink Ne. Ne is characterized by a desire to escape current circumstances. To get out of it meditating with Se, Si can help access Te and Ti. We can't live on intuition alone.

 

Overthinking in my experience tends to be researching small aspects of things as I run through my options at lightning speed. I'll tell myself that I can't rely on my feelings alone. I rationalize through tears and don't really get anything done.
God, most of my overthinking happens on school assignments - I lock myself out of correct answers again and again.

 

Sorry I'm not an INFP but still wanted to comment

I'm not sure what it feels like, but it sure does lead to indecision until "time" ultimately makes the decision for me, at least in cases where there's a window of opportunity.
If I try to think of how it does feel to me, sometimes it feels like: a prison, cage, or kennel (whatever noun to describe a confined, locked space). I try to tell myself to not make a big deal out of this thing, or just do something... but it's not that easy. There's so many possibilities, and possibilities beyond what I can think of and I ultimately can't narrow down pros and cons enough to make a decision.

 

For me it feels like being stuck inside of a box, and instead of looking for a way out of it, I'm way too focused on why I'm in the box, what I did to "deserve" being in it, how I could have changed the situation, etc.

In truth none of that matters in that moment. Those thoughts should be saved for when I'm not dealing with such pressing matters (escaping the box.) Hence it's overthinking in that moment.

 

Thank you for putting a sensor-like tangible metaphor to that, I think it is very well described as far as I experience it.

The first thing that would come to my mind is ''suffocation'', followed by the thoughts that you described. So, maybe you're in the box and I am under water, but all the rest is similar.

Following up, one with Te-function in the stack could just think of steamrolling out of the situation by sheer willpower, bluntness and stubbornness. However, these situations / feelings usually boomerang back to you, as nothing in life has a concrete solution that solves something once and for all (like how Te likes it). Life is balance, it is never satisfied. It's being a plain bitch in the ass. It is when you solved crises with a lot of effort, only for them to return again later to plague and haunt you.



Anyway that was kind of grim. errr ....

So yeah basically I feel suffocated followed up by feeling uber annoyed by it all I can see it loop and loop and loop before it happens.

 

My brother overthinks things & the more trivial it is the more he thinks about it. He's been shopping for a motorcycle helmet for a month. I've told him everything I know from years of personal experience & research. We've had dozens of conversations, texts & emails & he still doesn't know what he wants. Called me 3 times today. Years ago we're at a chocolate shop in Belgium. My dad & I go in, buy chocolate & walk out. My brother goes in for a half hour & is calculating the price per weight of every piece. Then basically interviews the girl there about each flavor. Then he tries to negotiate a discount. I cringed & offered to pay for it to get him out. There's more, I'm just getting started. Anyway, FWIW he's a first-born, left-brain ESTJ just like my dad. I'm a middle-born, right-brain INFP.

 

one whole year i have spent overthinking about one single thing. it had a devastating empact on me mentally, emotionally and eventually physically. as much as i felt exhausted and burnt out, still i was nervously restless all the time. these two emotions were pretty hard to handle, happening at the same time.

i think the real danger is if you get stuck in only one mode of thinking, which is pure logical and the absolute truth in your head (possible outcomes and paths that are to happen).
then we tend to exclude real actual possibilities and the changing nature of things, and see those few paths as definite and non-altering. Ne is eliminated in a Si-Te loop, backed by Fi backbone.

 

Exhausting.

 

It feels like a sandcastle with waves creeping up on it.

 

To me it's playing out all these scenarios in your head. They can be for major decisions to just minor ones.

 

It just feels like thinking and thinking and then getting stuck there, paralysed in thoughts, trying to find answers to things that may not have answers but continuing trying anyway and sometimes reaching a point of anxiety or helplessness in doing so. Overthinking rarely helps with finding solutions and yet it's why we do it, isn't it

 

it feels like not doing anything layful:

but i get really restless if i dont have an outlet for my thoughts

 

- It's so annoying that i finally share my complicated thought to someone. She's confused with what i really wanted and so was I :dry:

- In heavier stuff, my head just felt heavier, literally. The top of my head felt heavy. It's usually when i think alone about mental health issue, the cruel reality, etc.

- If i think/ confused about my self problem such like what to choose for my future plan, my head sensed something cold... just like i just washed my hair with mint shampoo (if you know that feeling of "cooling effect). And i really need or talk to somebody.