Overthinking & Racing Thoughts Therapy in Calgary | NU Psychology
Overthinking can feel like your brain is constantly in motion — replaying conversations, imagining every possible outcome, questioning decisions, or trying to solve problems that don’t even exist yet. You might lie in bed exhausted, but your thoughts keep circling. Or you notice your mind speeding up the moment you finally pause.
It’s not that you want to think this much. It’s that your nervous system has learned to stay alert, prepared, and in motion.
Racing thoughts often develop in response to stress, anxiety, ADHD, perfectionism, or past experiences that taught your brain it needed to stay “on” to be safe. Whatever your path has been, therapy can help you understand what’s driving the mental noise — and support your mind in finding steadier, quieter rhythms.
You deserve moments of peace you don’t have to work for.
What Overthinking Can Feel Like
Overthinking and racing thoughts are rarely just “thinking too much.” They are emotional patterns that show up in your mind and your body.
You may feel:
A constant sense of mental busyness, even during downtime
Overanalyzing interactions or decisions
Worry that spirals quickly into “what if” scenarios
Difficulty relaxing or enjoying the moment
Feeling like your brain won’t stop scanning for something to fix
Distractibility or restlessness
Tension in the chest, stomach, or jaw
Feeling easily overwhelmed but unable to shut down
Many people blame themselves for being “too sensitive” or “too in their head,” but racing thoughts often reflect a nervous system trying to protect you — not a flaw in who you are.
Why Racing Thoughts Happen
Your mind may feel busy for many reasons, including:
Chronic stress or prolonged periods of worry
Anxiety patterns that keep the mind looping
ADHD-related thought acceleration or difficulty shifting attention
Trauma or earlier experiences of unpredictability
High self-expectations or pressure to get everything “right”
Emotional overload that hasn’t had space to be processed
When your mind has learned to stay vigilant, slowing down can feel uncomfortable — even unsafe. Therapy helps you understand where these patterns come from and how to shift them gently rather than forcing yourself to “just stop thinking.”
How NU Supports Overthinking & Racing Thoughts
We approach overthinking with warmth and curiosity, not pressure. Your therapist will work with you to understand the emotional, cognitive, and physiological roots of your thought patterns. Support may include:
Strategies for calming the nervous system
Tools for interrupting looping thoughts without suppressing them
Narrative Therapy to explore the internal stories driving pressure or worry
CBT to challenge unhelpful thinking patterns
EMDR when racing thoughts are tied to stress or past experiences
Acceptance-based approaches that reduce the fight with your mind
You might benefit from therapy if:
Your mind feels “on” even when your body is tired
You replay conversations or decisions long after they’re done
You feel stuck in cycles of worry, pressure, or analysis
Situations feel overwhelming because your mind won’t slow down
You feel disconnected from the present moment
Overthinking affects your sleep, mood, or confidence
You find yourself preparing for problems that haven’t happened
Therapy doesn’t ask you to jump straight into calm.
It helps you build safety and steadiness first, so slowing down feels possible — and eventually natural.
What Healing Can Look Like
As your nervous system softens and your mind learns new patterns, you may begin to notice:
More spaciousness between thoughts
Less urgency, even when stress is present
Quicker recovery after spirals
Greater trust in your decisions
An ability to pause without your mind rushing in
More presence in your relationships and daily life
A quieter internal world, at least some of the time
Healing is not about never overthinking — it’s about not feeling controlled by it.
Support for Teens & Adults
Teens & Young Adults
Racing thoughts often show up alongside academic pressure, social stress, and developing identities. We help teens understand their inner world, build emotional regulation skills, and create more predictable routines.
Adults
For adults, overthinking may be tied to burnout, caregiving responsibilities, trauma, ADHD, relationship stress, or perfectionism. Therapy supports a calmer mind and a more grounded, intentional pace.
Start Overthinking Therapy in Calgary
If your mind feels busy, loud, or hard to live inside, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Therapy can help you feel more grounded, more present, and more connected to yourself. Book online, call, or email to get matched with a Calgary psychologist who specializes in overthinking, anxiety, ADHD, and emotional wellness.
NU Psychology is located in Killarney, Calgary, easy to reach from:
Aspen Woods · West Springs · Cougar Ridge · Discovery Ridge · Springbank · Signal Hill · Strathcona · Mount Royal · Altadore · Bankview · Glendale · Westgate · Wildwood · Hillhurst · Sunalta · Lakeview.
📍 2005 – 37 St SW, Unit #4, Calgary
📞 403-217-4686
Frequently Asked Questions
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Not always. It can be tied to anxiety, ADHD, trauma, or stress patterns. Therapists help you understand the specific roots of your experience.
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Yes. Therapy supports both the mind and the nervous system, giving you tools that reduce spirals and create a sense of internal quiet.
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This is common and often linked to past experiences. Therapy helps build safety so relaxation feels less threatening over time.