Dear fellow overthinker,

Trust me. I know how hard it can be. You are always analyzing and overthinking a conversation or interaction that you just had with someone. But know that it's OK. It's OK to be an overthinker. Sure, it can be unhealthy and frustrating, but you cannot change who you are.

One thing my mom told me, and something that I will never forget, is that I get 10 minutes to worry about something. A whole 10 minutes. But after that time, I have to move on with my life. Don't let your thoughts bog you down for longer than 10 minutes. Life has so much more to offer. Go out and enjoy it, and live all the experiences available to you.

It can be so easy for us overthinkers to sit there and tear apart the last 24 hours down to the second and over-analyze everything that happened. But it's equally as important to take the conscious effort to do the opposite of just that! Allow yourself those 10 minutes to overthink, and then simply move on. In the long run, that girl who may have brushed you aside when you tried to say hello was probably not upset with you. She was probably just late to a meeting or a class.

Also, don't be afraid to open up to the friends closest to you. I know I often overthink my friendships and my interactions with my friends all the time. I find any and every reason that my friends could possibly be mad at me. Or I may overthink one slightly abrupt response to me because someone is stressed as a sign that my friend is mad at me. Trust me, that is no way to live. Don't let your mind trick you into these lies!

You are beautiful, perfect, and your friends love you. That's right: You, the person who is reading this right now, have done nothing wrong. I know, that's easier said than thought! But really, talk to your friends about how you're feeling. Your feelings are real and valid, but your friends are there to tell you that everything is OK. And honestly, I'm sure they want to know how you're feeling and doing! I recently talked to my best friend about how I have been overthinking so many things, and she was so glad I was honest and open with her. Your friends care about you and want you to be happy. Being open and honest also tends to strengthen friendships.

So if you take one thing away from this, fellow overthinker, let it be that you are doing nothing wrong. It is OK to overthink. But don't let it get to a crippling point where you start to isolate yourself Don't let it all bottle up inside until you explode. Get the help you need. Talk to your family and friends. Be open, and be yourself. There is nothing wrong with you or the fact that you overthink. It's an innate part of being human. Know that your friends are there for you and love you no matter what.

Don't let your mind and thoughts control you.