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In psoriasis, a small patch (plaque) can become a full-body flare if triggered over and over by stress or constant picking at the skin. The same is true for overthinking.
Part 2: The Flare
In the perspective of the psoriasis analogy:
You feel discomfort (anxiety, uncertainty, fear of mistakes)—like an itch—so you “scratch” the itch by overthinking, trying to land on a thought that will soothe your apprehension. This extra analysis gives you temporary relief. But—just like the effect of scratching an itch—the analysis causes even more “inflammation” by signaling that this topic you are worrying about is dangerous—something that needs to be revisited. Consequently, more anxiety about the same topic leads to a more intense “itch” and scratch, turning into rumination, a never-ending cycle that worsens in severity every time it repeats and never reaches a “soothing” conclusion. And as it worsens, its effects—loss of focus, a need of constant reassurance, loss of peace, decision paralysis, and general time lost to the present (almost as if your thinking traps you in a vacuum, isolated from reality)—intensify, too…as the red patches on your skin would begin to spread and burn ruthlessly in psoriasis.
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Here’s a quick student anecdote to bring this concept to life:
Ian used to think of himself as diligent: after finishing homework, he liked to reread his essays and double-check his math steps, just to be sure everything was right. But the rereading became increasingly pervasive.
One night, he stayed at his desk long after his assignments were finished. One sentence in his English essay kept pulling him back. He reviewed his essay again and again; each time, it seemed slightly off in a new way, like a small itch of doubt beneath the surface.
The next week, the habit returned while studying for a quiz. He went over material he already understood, then went over it again. He wasn’t learning at that point: he was trying to quiet the discomfort of not feeling completely certain.
Then, suddenly, it wasn’t just schoolwork he questioned. He began second-guessing which pen to use. Whether his “thank you” sounded sincere. Even whether he zipped his backpack fully.
Each review brought a quick moment of relief, but it faded fast. The itch always returned, showing up in more places than before.
What began as careful attention had spread into every aspect of his everyday life.
So…left untreated, psoriasis spreads. Left unaddressed, overthinking spreads too, until it’s like a trap you can’t escape.
But just like psoriasis, flare-ups can be managed. The solution is not to force the thoughts to stop. It is to teach the mind a new response to discomfort.
To be continued :).
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