The suffering of the Lebanese people is worsening day by day due to a series of crises that besiege them and exacerbate their hardships. This includes the near-constant power outages, intermittent water supply, the occasional loss of gas and diesel, the crisis of rising living costs and increased prices of consumer and food goods, along with a monetary, economic, and political crisis leading to record exchange rates for the dollar. Faced with this harsh reality, the phenomenon of overthinking has significantly emerged, which can indicate that a person may be suffering from depression, anxiety, or obsessive thoughts (OCD).
In this context, Dr. Rana Haddad, a clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, and university professor, notes that the Lebanese have faced losses on multiple levels—material, social, political, health, and more. When discussing such a vast array of losses, it is natural for there to be impacts on an individual's psychological state. Haddad tells MTV: "We can talk about the anxiety experienced by the Lebanese, which is expressed in various ways through excessive thinking or overthinking—when a person thinks about the same idea for hours or struggles to forget past traumas and imagines the worst for the future. This excessive thinking affects the person on personal and professional levels, among others. The questions that one raises can lead to depression and exhaustion."
She adds: "The situation that the Lebanese are experiencing is very difficult and cannot fail to have an impact, especially as the losses touch upon their means of survival, addressing basic needs essential for life. This anxiety stems from a fear of death. The Lebanese rely on overthinking to find ways to live, sustain themselves, and persist." Regarding the solutions to this crisis, she emphasizes the need for individuals to acknowledge the situation they are going through and not to escape from it. Therefore, she suggests setting a fixed time to reflect and dedicating time to it, translating thoughts onto paper in a designated place, and not fleeing from problems and ideas.
She also advises seeking help, talking with colleagues, friends, or relatives, and possibly consulting a therapist to avoid feelings of isolation. In contrast, she points out that some might resort to overeating, alcohol consumption, or drug use to relieve or free themselves from excessive negative thoughts, which are unhealthy behaviors that lead to addiction.
She confirms that overthinking has an impact on a person's relationship with their environment and their behavior, as society feels helpless and does not know how to assist the person. Therefore, she stresses the importance of helping individuals express themselves and avoiding distractions that suppress their suffering, which ultimately provides no real benefit as it is only a temporary solution. She asserts the goal should be to listen to the person's suffering and consider seeking a specialist, steering clear of statements like "toughen up and be patient," which harm individuals and trivialize their feelings and the difficulties they face.
