You send a message.
Then you start thinking about it.
Did it sound okay?
Should I have said it differently?
What will they think?
This is overthinking — and it’s extremely common.
It often comes from uncertainty or desire for approval.
Once the message is sent, you lose control of the outcome.
That lack of control creates mental repetition.
But most people are not analysing your message as deeply as you think.
They are focused on their own lives.
Understanding this reduces pressure.
Because communication doesn’t need to be perfect to be effective.