You are likely a caring, devoted parent if you are reading this post. Yet, you've probably painfully learned how challenging it is when your child is stuck in those overthinking loops of "What ifs?" Unfortunately, your seemingly endless logical explanations and reassurances usually make them even more anxious.

Let's first be clear about what overthinking is. Overthinking (often called rumination) is when kids get sucked into repetitive, unproductive thought loops driven by anxiety. But while rumination is usually focused on perseverating about the past, overtthinking encompasses the past and the future.

This could mean kids getting stuck in mental loops when choosing a math test answer, struggling to engage a peer or a teacher, or being unsure whether to join a new activity. Even though these worry storms feel distressing, they are part of the child or teen's own reasonable thinking about these everyday situations.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is different than overthinking. With OCD, there are intrusive, upsetting thoughts that require a different approach, which is most often exposure and response........

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