What do you think?
Rate this book
The Overthinking Cure: How to free your mind and focus on what really matters
'A compassionate, clear, and practical book . . . so very helpful.' - Julia Samuel, author of THIS TOO WILL PASS
'A fantastic book. This book is packed with lots of helpful advice about how to understand your overthinking tendencies and how to address them!'- Dr Jack Mosley, author of FOOD NOISE
***
Do you get caught up in anxious thoughts?
Do you re play over your mistakes and failures in your mind?
Do you lie awake at night because you can't stop thinking about what happened earlier that day?
If so, you're suffering from overthinking.
But you are not alone.
Thinking about your life is a normal part of being human; it's often helpful to analyze a situation or revisit a problem in your mind, but if you find yourself constantly dwelling on your thoughts - with no sign of resolution - then it becomes a problem.
Overthinking is the problem that disguises itself as the solution.
In this life-changing book, trusted psychologist Dr Jessamy Hibberd shows how to break free from overthinking. Through expert advice, and real-life examples from her clinic, you will become more aware of your overthinking habits - and learn why we get stuck in unhelpful thinking patterns. Dr Jessamy offers personalized prompts and practical tips to identify your doom spirals and help you find healthier coping strategies that redirect your thoughts.
The cure is break the cycle of overthinking.
In this book, you will learn how
- Notice your thoughts
- Choose your response
- Challenge your thinking
- Accept the reality of how life is
- Face your fears
The Overthinking Cure is the essential guide to break free from overthinking - so you can live a better life and focus on what really matters.
'A fantastic book. This book is packed with lots of helpful advice about how to understand your overthinking tendencies and how to address them!'- Dr Jack Mosley, author of FOOD NOISE
***
Do you get caught up in anxious thoughts?
Do you re play over your mistakes and failures in your mind?
Do you lie awake at night because you can't stop thinking about what happened earlier that day?
If so, you're suffering from overthinking.
But you are not alone.
Thinking about your life is a normal part of being human; it's often helpful to analyze a situation or revisit a problem in your mind, but if you find yourself constantly dwelling on your thoughts - with no sign of resolution - then it becomes a problem.
Overthinking is the problem that disguises itself as the solution.
In this life-changing book, trusted psychologist Dr Jessamy Hibberd shows how to break free from overthinking. Through expert advice, and real-life examples from her clinic, you will become more aware of your overthinking habits - and learn why we get stuck in unhelpful thinking patterns. Dr Jessamy offers personalized prompts and practical tips to identify your doom spirals and help you find healthier coping strategies that redirect your thoughts.
The cure is break the cycle of overthinking.
In this book, you will learn how
- Notice your thoughts
- Choose your response
- Challenge your thinking
- Accept the reality of how life is
- Face your fears
The Overthinking Cure is the essential guide to break free from overthinking - so you can live a better life and focus on what really matters.
- GenresPsychologySelf Help
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 5, 2026
13 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 11, 2026
I took my time with this one and actually took some things from the book and put them into practice. I myself am quite well versed in the world of therapy and for me I found this book actually quite useful compared to some other versions of therapy I’ve experienced. This one in particular really does make you reflect and kind of switches the thought process and challenge your thinking a little bit. Especially in the self criticism and unfair comparing department.
There’s plenty of tips, tricks and exercises in the book that can really help you improve your self awareness and thought process skills, I tried and tested all of them and there’s definitely a couple I’ll be using consistently from now on.
There’s plenty of tips, tricks and exercises in the book that can really help you improve your self awareness and thought process skills, I tried and tested all of them and there’s definitely a couple I’ll be using consistently from now on.
March 13, 2026
Gosh! Some book!
This is the best book I’ve read on overthinking. What I like about Dr Jessamy’s book is she sets out what she aims to do very clearly. This includes explaining why we get stuck overthinking, spelling out the disadvantages and most importantly how to get our thinking under control. The five steps are easy to follow and really work. Right at the beginning of the book I really identified with the Buddhist parable of the second arrow. If you don’t know this then you must read the book! An excellent self-help book.
This is the best book I’ve read on overthinking. What I like about Dr Jessamy’s book is she sets out what she aims to do very clearly. This includes explaining why we get stuck overthinking, spelling out the disadvantages and most importantly how to get our thinking under control. The five steps are easy to follow and really work. Right at the beginning of the book I really identified with the Buddhist parable of the second arrow. If you don’t know this then you must read the book! An excellent self-help book.
March 27, 2026
I am an Olympic-level overthinker and have recently been diagnosed with OCD and CPTSD so ANYTHING that might help stop the spiral is worth checking out, if ever there was a self-help book that screamed ‘me’ it’s this one! 😂
From the off, this book makes it clear that overthinking is not a personal failing, but a learned habit, often rooted in anxiety, perfectionism, or past experiences, that can be understood and softened with the right tools. If you’re already familiar with CBT based techniques then some of this may feel familiar, but even then, its warmth and clarity make the material feel freshly grounded.
What really works is the balance between explanation and application. Hibberd breaks down the science and psychology behind overthinking in a way that feels accessible rather than clinical, using clear metaphors, relatable examples and a reassuring tone. Each chapter builds on the last, layering the information rather than piling it on all at once, and the practical exercises are woven in naturally rather than feeling like homework you will put off until tomorrow! She writes in a calm and accessible way, and it doesn’t ever feel preachy.
There is a strong focus on compassion for your own brain, which feels important in a genre that can sometimes feel like it’s telling you to “just stop doing that”… super helpful! 🙄 And reading this with my own recent diagnoses in mind added an extra layer of importance… Overthinking, for me, is not just spiralling thoughts but a survival strategy that may have felt useful at one point in life but now is the absolute opposite! Having said that, the author never claims to cure complex mental health conditions, and I appreciated that. Instead, she offers frameworks for noticing thought patterns and learning when to engage with your mind and when to disengage. These tools are offered as a way to complement therapy and medication rather than replace them.
This isn’t a flashy self help book with a miracle promise, and that is why it worked for me. It is practical, plain-speaking and empowering, one to dog ear, underline and come back to on a rough week.
From the off, this book makes it clear that overthinking is not a personal failing, but a learned habit, often rooted in anxiety, perfectionism, or past experiences, that can be understood and softened with the right tools. If you’re already familiar with CBT based techniques then some of this may feel familiar, but even then, its warmth and clarity make the material feel freshly grounded.
What really works is the balance between explanation and application. Hibberd breaks down the science and psychology behind overthinking in a way that feels accessible rather than clinical, using clear metaphors, relatable examples and a reassuring tone. Each chapter builds on the last, layering the information rather than piling it on all at once, and the practical exercises are woven in naturally rather than feeling like homework you will put off until tomorrow! She writes in a calm and accessible way, and it doesn’t ever feel preachy.
There is a strong focus on compassion for your own brain, which feels important in a genre that can sometimes feel like it’s telling you to “just stop doing that”… super helpful! 🙄 And reading this with my own recent diagnoses in mind added an extra layer of importance… Overthinking, for me, is not just spiralling thoughts but a survival strategy that may have felt useful at one point in life but now is the absolute opposite! Having said that, the author never claims to cure complex mental health conditions, and I appreciated that. Instead, she offers frameworks for noticing thought patterns and learning when to engage with your mind and when to disengage. These tools are offered as a way to complement therapy and medication rather than replace them.
This isn’t a flashy self help book with a miracle promise, and that is why it worked for me. It is practical, plain-speaking and empowering, one to dog ear, underline and come back to on a rough week.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Insightful, practical, and reassuring!
Title: The Overthinking Cure
Format: Audiobook
Author: Dr Jessamy Hibberd
Dr Jessamy Hibberd’s The Overthinking Cure offers a compassionate and clear-eyed guide through the tangled loops of rumination and anxiety. As an audiobook, the experience feels particularly warm and personal — like having a calm, wise friend walk you through effective strategies for quieting your inner critic.
💡 What worked well:
Accessible narration: The narrator’s tone is soothing and measured, which really supports the subject matter. It makes even the more cognitively heavy concepts feel easy to absorb without being patronizing.
Practical tools: Dr Hibberd blends cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness and self-compassion practices in a way that feels pragmatic and doable. Exercises are clearly explained and well-paced in the audiobook format.
Relatable framing: The book doesn’t just present theory; it draws on real-world examples that make the patterns of overthinking recognizable (and, importantly, changeable).
🔍 Highlights:
The breakdown of how overthinking loops start and sustain themselves was eye-opening.
The emphasis on self-compassion rather than self-criticism makes this stand out from more “tough-love” self-help reads.
A great balance between psychology and actionable steps — ideal for listeners who want both understanding and doing.
📌 A few caveats:
If you’re already very familiar with CBT or mindfulness frameworks, some of the content may feel familiar.
A few sections lean a bit “workbook-y,” which is great if you enjoy pausing and reflecting, but may feel a little slow if you’re after a purely narrative style.
🎧 Overall:
A thoughtful, uplifting listen for anyone prone to rumination or stuck in mental loops. Its strength is in its grounded, gentle approach — the kind that doesn’t just tell you to “stop overthinking,” but teaches you how to do it with curiosity and kindness.
ARC from NetGalley!
Title: The Overthinking Cure
Format: Audiobook
Author: Dr Jessamy Hibberd
Dr Jessamy Hibberd’s The Overthinking Cure offers a compassionate and clear-eyed guide through the tangled loops of rumination and anxiety. As an audiobook, the experience feels particularly warm and personal — like having a calm, wise friend walk you through effective strategies for quieting your inner critic.
💡 What worked well:
Accessible narration: The narrator’s tone is soothing and measured, which really supports the subject matter. It makes even the more cognitively heavy concepts feel easy to absorb without being patronizing.
Practical tools: Dr Hibberd blends cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness and self-compassion practices in a way that feels pragmatic and doable. Exercises are clearly explained and well-paced in the audiobook format.
Relatable framing: The book doesn’t just present theory; it draws on real-world examples that make the patterns of overthinking recognizable (and, importantly, changeable).
🔍 Highlights:
The breakdown of how overthinking loops start and sustain themselves was eye-opening.
The emphasis on self-compassion rather than self-criticism makes this stand out from more “tough-love” self-help reads.
A great balance between psychology and actionable steps — ideal for listeners who want both understanding and doing.
📌 A few caveats:
If you’re already very familiar with CBT or mindfulness frameworks, some of the content may feel familiar.
A few sections lean a bit “workbook-y,” which is great if you enjoy pausing and reflecting, but may feel a little slow if you’re after a purely narrative style.
🎧 Overall:
A thoughtful, uplifting listen for anyone prone to rumination or stuck in mental loops. Its strength is in its grounded, gentle approach — the kind that doesn’t just tell you to “stop overthinking,” but teaches you how to do it with curiosity and kindness.
ARC from NetGalley!
February 13, 2026
If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in a loop of “what ifs,” rehashing past conversations, or worrying about every little detail that could go wrong, The Overthinking Cure is a book that’ll feel like it was written just for you.
The book breaks down seven distinct overthinking styles, emphasizing that most of us won’t fit neatly into one box – instead, we’re often a mix of several. What really resonated with me was how it clearly distinguishes between healthy reflection and harmful overthinking; I’d never considered myself an overthinker before, but reading it helped me recognize patterns I’d been unconsciously falling into in certain situations.
This couldn’t come at a more important time: nearly one in six English adults experiences a common mental disorder like depression or anxiety in any given week, and we’re facing a clear mental health crisis. The Overthinking Cure feels like a vital tool for navigating this landscape – practical, compassionate, and deeply insightful. I already know it’ll be a book I will return to again and again, dipping into specific chapters whenever I need to understand my thought patterns and pull myself out of a spiral. For anyone looking to gain control over their mind and build healthier thinking habits, this is an essential read that belongs on every self-care shelf.
The book breaks down seven distinct overthinking styles, emphasizing that most of us won’t fit neatly into one box – instead, we’re often a mix of several. What really resonated with me was how it clearly distinguishes between healthy reflection and harmful overthinking; I’d never considered myself an overthinker before, but reading it helped me recognize patterns I’d been unconsciously falling into in certain situations.
This couldn’t come at a more important time: nearly one in six English adults experiences a common mental disorder like depression or anxiety in any given week, and we’re facing a clear mental health crisis. The Overthinking Cure feels like a vital tool for navigating this landscape – practical, compassionate, and deeply insightful. I already know it’ll be a book I will return to again and again, dipping into specific chapters whenever I need to understand my thought patterns and pull myself out of a spiral. For anyone looking to gain control over their mind and build healthier thinking habits, this is an essential read that belongs on every self-care shelf.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book explores a struggle many people will recognise: getting trapped in cycles of anxious, repetitive thinking. Drawing on her experience as a psychologist, Hibberd explains how overthinking can masquerade as problem-solving while actually keeping us stuck in worry and self-doubt.
The book is written in a clear and accessible style, and the practical approach is one of its strengths. Hibberd introduces straightforward techniques such as noticing thought patterns, challenging unhelpful thinking, and learning to respond more intentionally to intrusive thoughts. The inclusion of prompts and real-life examples from her clinical work helps make the advice feel relatable and applicable to everyday situations.
However, readers familiar with cognitive behavioural strategies or self-help books on anxiety may find much of the material quite familiar. While the guidance is solid and sensible, it doesn’t necessarily offer many new insights beyond well-established psychological techniques.
That said, The Overthinking Cure works well as an introductory guide for those beginning to explore their relationship with anxious thinking. It offers practical reminders and simple tools that can help readers step back from mental spirals and focus more on what truly matters.
The book is written in a clear and accessible style, and the practical approach is one of its strengths. Hibberd introduces straightforward techniques such as noticing thought patterns, challenging unhelpful thinking, and learning to respond more intentionally to intrusive thoughts. The inclusion of prompts and real-life examples from her clinical work helps make the advice feel relatable and applicable to everyday situations.
However, readers familiar with cognitive behavioural strategies or self-help books on anxiety may find much of the material quite familiar. While the guidance is solid and sensible, it doesn’t necessarily offer many new insights beyond well-established psychological techniques.
That said, The Overthinking Cure works well as an introductory guide for those beginning to explore their relationship with anxious thinking. It offers practical reminders and simple tools that can help readers step back from mental spirals and focus more on what truly matters.
January 19, 2026
I received this audio book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I found the book to be a helpful and practical read full of tips and reframing tools. I have severe anxiety, depression and panic disorder, and am the biggest over thinker so I’m always keen to find things to add to my arsenal.
Although I’m very familiar with many therapeutic interventions, tools and resources, I felt this was useful, and a reflective resource for me, particularly with examples and different scenarios we’ll likely face in our lives provided and how we can approach them for a better outcome. It made me reflect a lot and I did appreciate the narrator’s (who’s the author) tone which felt calm and relatable.
I also felt that I’d possibly benefit more from a physical copy when it’s released, as listening to the audio book meant I couldn’t highlight or tab pages and make notes to refer back to.
I would recommend this book especially to anyone who’s less familiar with interventions and those who would find a refresher.
I found the book to be a helpful and practical read full of tips and reframing tools. I have severe anxiety, depression and panic disorder, and am the biggest over thinker so I’m always keen to find things to add to my arsenal.
Although I’m very familiar with many therapeutic interventions, tools and resources, I felt this was useful, and a reflective resource for me, particularly with examples and different scenarios we’ll likely face in our lives provided and how we can approach them for a better outcome. It made me reflect a lot and I did appreciate the narrator’s (who’s the author) tone which felt calm and relatable.
I also felt that I’d possibly benefit more from a physical copy when it’s released, as listening to the audio book meant I couldn’t highlight or tab pages and make notes to refer back to.
I would recommend this book especially to anyone who’s less familiar with interventions and those who would find a refresher.
March 19, 2026
It’s a well-written, practical book. Clear structure, easy to follow, and grounded in real situations. But if you’ve spent time working on decision-making or self-awareness, most of the ideas will feel familiar.
That’s not a weakness. It just means this book isn’t about new concepts. It’s about applying what we already know.
That said, not everyone starts there. A lot of this is learned through years and experience. If I picked this up in my 20s or 30s, it would have been a top book for me.
A lot of the advice is simple:
Interrupt the thought loop
Reframe the situation
Focus on what’s in your control
All valid. All proven.
But not easy to execute.
We’re wired to overthink. It’s not something you switch off. It’s something you manage.
What the book does well is bring attention back to that moment when thinking stops being useful and starts slowing you down.
That’s the real skill: knowing when to stop thinking and move.
I’d recommend this to anyone who knows they tend to overthink. Just don’t expect a shortcut. It comes down to practice.
That’s not a weakness. It just means this book isn’t about new concepts. It’s about applying what we already know.
That said, not everyone starts there. A lot of this is learned through years and experience. If I picked this up in my 20s or 30s, it would have been a top book for me.
A lot of the advice is simple:
Interrupt the thought loop
Reframe the situation
Focus on what’s in your control
All valid. All proven.
But not easy to execute.
We’re wired to overthink. It’s not something you switch off. It’s something you manage.
What the book does well is bring attention back to that moment when thinking stops being useful and starts slowing you down.
That’s the real skill: knowing when to stop thinking and move.
I’d recommend this to anyone who knows they tend to overthink. Just don’t expect a shortcut. It comes down to practice.
March 12, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read The Overthinking Cure
I found this book well-constructed. It really tackles the topic of overthinking in its entirety. From learning about what overthinking is, to trying to figure out which type of overthinker you are, to have concrete examples and solutions to your thinking process, everything is covered.
I found the examples really helpful and could relate to many of the testimonies. The use of different materials (graphs, tables, diagrams and headlines) as well as the recaps before and at the end of each chapter helped and showed how this book can speak to someone who prefers visual material than just reading.
I would highly recommend it, but not necessarily in the digital format. As I read this e-ARC, I felt like I wanted to hold the book, annotate it, and do the exercises on paper, but couldn’t really do that.
I found this book well-constructed. It really tackles the topic of overthinking in its entirety. From learning about what overthinking is, to trying to figure out which type of overthinker you are, to have concrete examples and solutions to your thinking process, everything is covered.
I found the examples really helpful and could relate to many of the testimonies. The use of different materials (graphs, tables, diagrams and headlines) as well as the recaps before and at the end of each chapter helped and showed how this book can speak to someone who prefers visual material than just reading.
I would highly recommend it, but not necessarily in the digital format. As I read this e-ARC, I felt like I wanted to hold the book, annotate it, and do the exercises on paper, but couldn’t really do that.
March 23, 2026
This is an excellent book. Very readable and informative. Dr Hibberd uses a variety of similes and metaphors to make the book accessible. With modern life seemingly a recipe for overthinking, this book proves the antidote. Readers will find a huge amount of very useful advice to help make sense of the world, both off and online. Who hasn't doom scrolled the "not so wondrous web" and social media, where there is more and more emphasis on being content and happy. This book helps give a different perspective and offers practical suggestion to escape the trap of overthinking. I was going to end by saying that it is a very thought provoking read, but am not sure this is the right thing to say in the context!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a great book. As a coach and a counsellor the content was not new to me but it was laid out very nicely. The content was well explained with useful diagrams and I thought the appendix - which dealt with specific scenarios - was particularly helpful. If you have already read a lot in this area it might not give you further insight, but it will give you lots of helpful advice that is well collated. Thanks to NetGalley and Octopus Publishing for the ARC.
January 19, 2026
**Listened to audio book and read along with electronic copy**
This book was on a topic that I find super interesting, and the book itself did not disappoint. I really liked that Dr Hibberd narrated the audiobook herself too. She had a very calming voice which helped when taking in the information and instructions.
There were some really interesting points in this book, so much so that I think it will need a re-read.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, and had a lot to think about and analyse myself while reading. I will definitely try to implement the ideas into my every day life.
This book was on a topic that I find super interesting, and the book itself did not disappoint. I really liked that Dr Hibberd narrated the audiobook herself too. She had a very calming voice which helped when taking in the information and instructions.
There were some really interesting points in this book, so much so that I think it will need a re-read.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, and had a lot to think about and analyse myself while reading. I will definitely try to implement the ideas into my every day life.
February 11, 2026
The Overthinking Cure was a great read! It really made me think outside the box and loved that it was accustomed to all types of overthinking rather than just the ‘general idea’.
It’s definitely give me loads of ways to deal with my stresses - some which I hadn’t thought / heard of before!
Having had a really hard time with overthinking recently with work, one case study was actually the exact situation I was in and was really healing to read and made me feel very understood which is definitely an added bonus!
If your someone that struggles with overthinking I would definitely recommend giving this book ago ❤️
It’s definitely give me loads of ways to deal with my stresses - some which I hadn’t thought / heard of before!
Having had a really hard time with overthinking recently with work, one case study was actually the exact situation I was in and was really healing to read and made me feel very understood which is definitely an added bonus!
If your someone that struggles with overthinking I would definitely recommend giving this book ago ❤️
February 20, 2026
This is such a practical guide not just about overthinking but why we do it and how to overcome it., As a chronic overthinker I really appreciated the author’s approach. The language made it very accessible and the layout made it easy to refer back to which will come in handy many times.
February 5, 2026
Interesting and helpful
February 12, 2026
I've read many books on how to tackle overthinking and this was really accessible, with the audio book having great narration from the author.
I'm a fan of self-help books, which I use to keep my coaching, counselling and NLP skills up-to-date, as well as create more self-awareness and personal growth.
There were some useful hints and tips about what overthinking is, and how to tackle it, and I got some really interesting moments of reflection from it. It's an easy and enjoyable read and I'd definitely read more of Jessamy Hibberd's books.
Thanks to Jessamy Hibberd, Octopus Audio and Netgalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.
I'm a fan of self-help books, which I use to keep my coaching, counselling and NLP skills up-to-date, as well as create more self-awareness and personal growth.
There were some useful hints and tips about what overthinking is, and how to tackle it, and I got some really interesting moments of reflection from it. It's an easy and enjoyable read and I'd definitely read more of Jessamy Hibberd's books.
Thanks to Jessamy Hibberd, Octopus Audio and Netgalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews