Mental Health Today

Why Saying "What If" Can Be Harmful To Your Mental Health Thinking outside the box is only beneficial when you focus on your positive thoughts. Overthinking the negative is harmful to your mental health. John shares the detrimental effects of assuming the worst-case scenarios. While it’s normal to sometimes look ahead - especially when you’re making tough decisions or when you are welcoming significant changes in your life – it’s best to acknowledge that the future has not happened yet and it’s not worth stressing over. Your thoughts influence your feelings and they also have an impact on your behavior. When you find yourself in stressful situations, assessing your thoughts can help you overcome negative prospects and possibilities. Your thoughts need to be rooted in truth and not assumptions. Focus on the positive outcomes and be open to people who are willing to help you. [Timecodes] [0:00] Why is saying “What if?” bad for your mental health? [2:03] So many people bear the “What if” mindset.