The Body Knows.

 Situation 1

January 2022 — I was in my engineering college. Semester-end exams were going on without a single day gap. That semester, I had hardly focused on any subject taught in class or even read properly. Still, I was somehow managing to pass the exams.

Then came the toughest subject for me — CCMW of Engineering. I had hardly read a single module. I started studying early in the morning but was only able to complete 1.5 modules before 5 p.m.

The whole hostel was in panic mode; most of us were stuck at the same level. Around 6 p.m., anxiety kicked in. I started writing formulas on my friend’s room wall with a pencil — just because that’s what he was doing. I still remember, things started looking blurry. My mind was filled with fear — tomorrow I am going to fail.

I don’t know why the human mind links failure with the end of the world. Whatever the answer is to this question, I don't know! But my situation was this — I am going to fail. Overthinking had taken full control. My mind became slow, panicked, and noisy. By 9 p.m., it felt like things were out of control. I raised both my hands — and surrendered.

I asked another friend for his room key and tried to sleep. Of course, sleep wasn’t going to come easily. So, I decided to focus all my thoughts on one thing — “Focus on the spot between the eyebrows.”

Now the real drama started — hundreds of thoughts came rushing while I tried to focus on that single spot. Random thoughts about parents, college, fees, placements, people, everything. I tried cancelling all those thoughts with a single thought: I don’t know anything, I just need to focus on this spot.

I couldn’t completely control my thoughts. They were coming, but I was able to reduce their intensity. Even the horrifying thought of failure began to fade.

After about an hour, I woke up feeling fresh. I read whatever I could and gave the exam the next day. Later, I passed that exam.

Situation 2

I realized I had let one of my dear ones go. I can’t explain the intensity of overthinking during this phase. It was like my mind was in shock — screaming so loud inside that for a moment I felt, Do I need to see a mental doctor? Am I going mad? Is this what madness feels like?

My mind was literally crying, shouting, yelling — all within itself. On the outside, I was quiet; people saw me as normal. But if someone could see what was going on inside, they would’ve thought I was losing my mind.

Whenever I overthought, I would walk. I was answering one thought with another, and then another one came — it was like a big question-answer session. I was answering all the questions that were coming. I even had a “conference” with multiple versions of myself, each with different thoughts.

In five days, I must have walked more than 100 km. But while walking, I was able to answer myself — to calm my own mind — and I started feeling more peaceful.

Situation 3

The scenario remained similar to Situation 2. This time, my way of coping was different. I started screaming in my mind — shut up, cut up, shut up! I didn’t want a single thought anymore.

Then I started chanting Om. Whenever another thought came, I refused to give it attention. This way, I was able to control my screaming mind.

Another thing is I started writing whenever I used to overthink, literally everything that was coming to mind I was just writing, not even thinking about it, just writing.

Conclusion

There are countless scenarios like these I could share. I’ve been an overthinker for as long as I can remember, maybe from birth. From 2015 till now, I’ve mostly stayed alone in my room — away from my hometown for studies and work. So, it’s mostly been me, my situations, and my overthinking.

What I want to say in the end is this — your body communicates.

In Situation 1, when I focused on that spot.

In Situation 2, when I went for walks and answered myself.

In Situation 3, when I yelled at my own thoughts to be quiet —

No Baba, no Mahatma taught me these things. My body knew what to do when my mind reached its limit.

If you suddenly wake up in the night with thoughts and start walking, wash your face, crave sunlight, or sip tea — it’s your body communicating with you.

Even if you ask ChatGPT how to deal with overthinking, it’ll say:

Go for a walk.

Don’t give attention to every thought; divert your mind.

Connect with nature — water, sun, wind, etc.

Write what you think

Your body knows you better than anything else. Listen to it — and you’ll live a happier life.

Note: I’m actually diverting my mind by writing this article. It’s giving me happiness. My body told me — “write, you’ll feel good.” I listened, and I do feel good.

Advice / Suggestion

Surrender: You have zero control over your future. All you can do is stay happy and do your work in the present.

Try not to know everything:

It’s very important for an overthinker not to know everything.

If you want to know everything about science, become a scientist.

If you want to know everything about life, become a monk.

But if you want to know everything about everything — sorry, that’s not possible in this life! Haha.

Do you even know everything about yourself?

Know only what is needed.

You are what you think:

If you eat daily but stay sad, your mind will use that energy to remain sad.

If you are happy, that same energy will be used for happiness.

That’s it! Try to stay happy.

— Raghupati Jha