Welcome to the third edition of The Reset Room, where you will receive tips, strategies and insights about all things mental health with a focus on ways to do a reset on some of the things in your life that may be leading to distress.

This weeks topic is Quieting the Overthinking Mind

🪞 Opening Reflection / Story

She’s the friend everyone counts on — the one who never says no, always double-checks if someone’s upset, and replays conversations in her head for hours.

Last week she told me, “I just wish I could stop worrying about what everyone thinks of me.”

That worry keeps her exhausted, because her mind is constantly scanning for signs that she’s done something wrong.

The truth? That fear of upsetting others often has less to do with the moment — and more to do with her having an anxious attachment and cognitive distortions that is an unconscious voice inside that tells us we must keep everyone happy to be safe.

🌾 The Reset: Catching the “Mind Reading” Trap

One of the biggest thinking traps anxious people face is called Mind Reading — believing we know what others are thinking about us (and assuming it’s negative).

It sounds like:

“She didn’t text back, so she must be mad.”
“He looked annoyed — I probably said the wrong thing.”
“They didn’t invite me; I must’ve done something wrong.”

These thoughts feel real because they come with emotion — but they’re not facts.
They’re guesses, shaped by past experiences of rejection or inconsistency.

Try this simple reset:​
1️⃣ Name it. When you catch yourself guessing what someone thinks, say in your mind: “That’s mind reading — not evidence.”​
2️⃣ Ask for clarity, not confirmation. Instead of assuming, communicate directly: “I just wanted to check — are we okay?”​
3️⃣ Refocus your energy. Do one small thing that you control — go for a walk, tidy a space, write a gratitude line.
4️⃣ Replace the thought: “I don’t know what they think, but I can choose calm while I wait.”

By catching this distortion, you shift from anxious guessing to grounded awareness — a reset that creates emotional freedom.

(Keep reading to the bottom for resources and closing thoughts to help)!

💛 The Co-Parent Reset

Mind reading happens often in co-parenting.

Maybe your co-parent gives short replies or changes a plan last minute — your mind jumps to, “They’re mad,” or “They’ll use this against me.”

Try this mindful reset:

• Notice the story your mind is creating.
• Check what’s factual: “They changed the plan.” That’s it.
• Regulate before replying: One deep breath, feet on the ground, name five things you see (5-4-3-2-1 you learned last week works here, too!).
• Respond with clarity: “Thanks for letting me know. Here’s what works on my end.”

You’ll feel calmer, communicate better, and keep your peace — even if the other parent stays unpredictable.

☕ Helpful Resources​
🎧 Video: Mindreading: Cognitive Distortions--60 second video​

🌸 Reconnect Moment

“What if you stopped assuming the worst — and gave yourself permission not to know?”

✨ Closing Reset Thought

Peace comes when you stop reading minds and start trusting your own.

👇Hit Reply to share one thing you will do differently or let me know topics you would like covered in the future.