how can i stop overthinking?

Hi EJ

Thank you for sharing what is going on in your mind. The reason we in the mental health community use the word automatic a lot is that most people live their whole lives with negative feelings. You need to practice accepting your thoughts however pleasant they may be. I encourage my clients to think of their unpleasant emotions as neither right but rather as helpful or unhelpful. You are having to holding back auamatic emotions that you know that if you expressed to those closest to you would hurt the feelings of those around you this is a noble struggle but there is no shame in needing someone to help you sort out those emotions due to your nervus system. It takes a toll on your mind and Body to do so this is an unhelpful cycle. You need to set some ways of setting some boundaries with your family and develop a way of navigating the world that works for you and them. I recommend setting some measurable realistic goals for yourself. The reason siting boundaries   is easier said than done is that your brain may make you feel like you have a flee or fight it usually happens in the form a passive assertive or an aggressive remark when having an unpleasant conversation. If what you have described has been going on for longer than few months, I would recommend that you consider going to see a doctor of some sort and tell him or her the symptoms that you have disclosed in your question.  In some medical circles Emotional deprivation that has been going on for longer than two weeks is considered a depressive episode longer than three months is often considered a major depressive episode.  A few things to consider is if your speech is very rapid and you experience high and low over a period of weeks, months or days. These are things worth telling a doctor about as well. Any counselor should be happy to help evaluate what is going on and what might be the next steps to heal from overthinking that you brain and body causes you to feel .

Thanks, 

Bryan