What is an over-stimulated brain?

An over-stimulated brain is no longer able to process external stimuli properly. A stimulus is a piece of information that comes in through our senses (this includes the things we see, hear, taste or smell, as well as the emotions and thoughts to which our brain attaches a meaning).

If you are often mentally tired, always feel "on" and fret a lot, you may wonder if your brain is over-stimulated. Yet it can be difficult to recognize an overexcited brain. This is because the primary purpose of your brain is to keep you alive. Therefore, symptoms that indicate brain over-stimulation are ignored by your brain. Do you recognize the following signs? Then chances are your brain is overstimulated.

Signals of an overstimulated brain

• Mental fatigue and feeling exhausted
• Pain and tension in your body
• Mood swings and a short fuse
• Lack of concentration
• Procrastination
• Sleep problems and restless sleeping
• Restlessness
• Stress, anxiety and depression
• Worrying and negative thoughts
• Hyperventilation and panic attacks
• Anger and frustration
• Hair loss
• Intestinal complaints

Why is my brain overstimulated?

Over-stimulation is almost impossible to counteract. We live in a fast-paced society and our brains are really not made at all to process all the stimuli that come at us today. As a result, our nervous system is extra alert and we actually live with too much stress all the time.

On top of that, we constantly expose ourselves to stimuli. Taking a moment to do nothing has become a lost art and every silence is filled with scrolling through Instagram and TikTok. We wake up with our phones and we go to bed with them. We hardly give our brains any more rest to process the stimuli that come in.

Over-stimulation is dangerous

While this may sound like something that comes with our times, an over-stimulated brain is not innocent. Many people see "being busy" as normal and cannot relax. An overstimulated brain can even cause long-term anxiety, depression and burnout.

Do nothing at all more often

The solution to an overstimulated brain? Do nothing more often or lounge around. And while we have become incredibly bad at this as a society, it is tremendously good for our brain.

This doesn't mean it's easy. In fact, as human beings, it feels good to be productive. When we tick tasks off our to-do list, the chemical dopamine is released. And actually, this works like any other addiction. Not only does dopamine cause your nervous system to activate and your heart rate and blood pressure to rise, it also makes you more motivated to do even more.

While it is sometimes necessary to be productive, being "busy" or "busy" all the time is not good for your brain. Especially not if you start feeling guilty at the times when you do less. That's why it's important to learn to do nothing. And fortunately, that is something you can train yourself.

Doing nothing: how to do it?

Doing nothing is no longer in the dictionary for many of us. Maybe you tell yourself not to take a break until all your work is finished or you feel uncomfortable going outside without a phone in your pocket.

The truth is: there is always something to do. That's why it's important to put your productivity addiction aside and take regular moments of rest throughout the day. Find out what "doing nothing" means to you. Maybe you clear your head by staring in front of you or you enjoy lying in the park and listening to nature sounds.

Try meditation

Does it feel strange to do nothing at all? Give meditation a try. Meditation is an active way to learn to do nothing. Chances are there are all kinds of thoughts racing through your mind if you're not used to doing nothing. A guided meditation helps you break through this stream of thoughts by bringing your attention to the here and now.