How to Stop Spiraling Thoughts (Without Pretending You're Okay)
- Karen Waleska
- Jul 15
- 2 min read
Updated: 1 hour ago
What Spiraling Thoughts Really Feel Like—And How to Spot the Pattern
For years, I thought I was just a deep thinker
I overanalyzed every message. Replayed every moment. Called it “reflection.”
But what I was really doing was rehearsing pain.
Those weren’t insights — they were emotional reruns.
I wasn’t processing.
I was spiraling.
And it was exhausting — mentally, emotionally, even physically.
It wasn’t clarity I was chasing anymore. It was control.
💭 The Truth About Spiraling Thoughts
Spiraling doesn’t always look chaotic.
It can feel calm, even productive — like you’re solving something.
But if your mind keeps circling back to the same conversation or person, that’s not clarity.
That’s your nervous system asking for safety.
Here’s how to spot the loop when your mind won’t shut off:
Rehearsing future conversations that haven’t happened
Rewriting old ones, hoping the ending will change
Obsessing over breadcrumbs — a tone, a pause, an emoji
Confusing overthinking for reflection
Sound familiar? You’re not broken. You’re just caught in a mental loop that journaling can help interrupt.
The Journal Page That Helped Me Break the Loop
The turning point came when I stopped trying to “think my way out.”
Instead, I sat down with my journal and asked one question:
“What does this version of me need to hear right now?”
That single prompt — from The Clarity Guide™ — changed everything.
It wasn’t about fixing the past.
It was about anchoring in the present.
Every time I returned to that page, I found my footing again.
Because clarity doesn’t come from overthinking — it comes from observing.
If you’re wondering how to stop spiraling thoughts in real time, I turned my three go-to steps into a quick guide you can save or Pin — because sometimes clarity needs a visual reminder.
✨ Try the Reset That Helped Me
If you’ve been stuck in your thoughts and want a simple reset, you can start here:
👉 Download your free preview of The Clarity Reset Guide™
It includes:
✔️ The guided page that helped me break the loop
✔️ My favorite reflection prompt to stop spiraling
✔️ A behind-the-scenes look at how this journal was created
🔗 Get Your Free Preview Here — Instant Download, No Pressure, Just Clarity
💌 Let’s Stay Connected
Join The Clarity Letter — your monthly guide to creative resets, emotional growth, and new journal drops. → Join Here
→ Follow us on Lemon8 @ClarityConCarino
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