Your Child Isn't Lazy-They're Overthinking

"Overthinking takes over their brains with thoughts like, "What if I do this wrong?" "What if I forget when the test is in front of me?" "What if this paper is not good enough?" So they pause, and maybe they seek reassurance. Or, they numb themselves with distractions through video games or social media."

"Many of the children in my counseling practice are bright, sensitive, and conscientious. They certainly don't wake up each day saying to themselves, "What things can I do today to make my life miserable and the lives of those around me miserable, too?" To the contrary, they want to do well. And, that is why their minds get stuck in overdrive."

"As I discuss in my book, Freeing Your Child from Overthinking, the more these kids overthink, the more they pause, and the harder it is for them to take steps forward."

Overthinking is a common struggle in bright, sensitive, and conscientious children that often appears as procrastination or defiance but actually reflects an unsettled mind trapped in worry cycles. Children caught in overthinking experience intrusive thoughts like "What if I do this wrong?" that paralyze them from taking action on tasks, even simple ones. This mental pattern causes them to seek reassurance repeatedly or distract themselves through digital means. The more children overthink, the more they pause and hesitate, making forward progress increasingly difficult. Parents often become frustrated with reassurance that doesn't help, not realizing their child's struggle stems from internal perfectionist anxiety rather than lack of capability or effort.

Read at Psychology Today