The human brain is a remarkable lump of electrified glob the most complex object in the known Universe, or so we're told. But every now and again, especially at night, don't you wish it would just shut up? Racing thoughts are one of the most common symptoms when we can't sleep. The lights go out, our heads hit the pillow, but our frontal cortex isn't done for the day. Egged on by caffeine, anxiety or everyday stress, our brains start acting like a pinball machine as thoughts ricochet from one place to another.
Psychologists call it rumination or mental perturbance. It's a repetitive pattern of negative thinking, and some of it is not even conscious. We dwell on mistakes, over-analyse the day, worry about tomorrow. It's worse in people with mental health conditions, but it can happen to anyone, especially when there's too much to do or life isn't going the way we want it to.
The start of the new year, when we're busy making plans and putting things right, is the prime time for overthinking.
Esta historia es de la edición January 2025 de BBC Science Focus.
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