The Art of Overthinking

Why did your friend reply “lol” instead of “haha”? Are they mad at you? Did you offend them? Relax—this is your brain’s negativity bias at work. It’s designed to focus on potential threats, even when they’re as harmless as a text message. How to Fix It: • Challenge your thoughts: Is there real evidence for this worry? • Distract yourself. Watch a funny cat video and remind yourself that “lol” is not a declaration of war.