When a teenager or adult is caught in a loop of anxious thoughts, the poster gives a simple way to pause and reduce the sense of being overwhelmed. It explains that overthinking can make small things feel bigger, and can leave people feeling stuck and drained, using clear wording that is easy to read during a stressful moment.
The main “Try this” section sets out five practical steps: notice when the mind is looping, pause and take a slow breath, ask “Is this helpful right now?”, focus on what can be controlled, and take one small step. These prompts work well as a grounding aid, a wellbeing reminder, or a short talking point in mental health support.
Additional reminders encourage the reader not to solve everything at once, to remember that thoughts are not facts, to let some thoughts pass without following them, and to speak to someone trusted if it feels too much. The language is reassuring rather than clinical, making it suitable for teenagers, young adults and adults who benefit from straightforward coping strategies.
The design uses a soft illustrated scene with a rabbit, candles, plants, rain at the window, and visual affirmations such as “one breath at a time” and “progress not perfection”. It could be printed for counselling rooms, social work sessions, school pastoral spaces, wellbeing displays, therapy homework, or home use as a calming prompt.
As a one-page mental health and wellbeing poster, it is especially useful for social workers, counsellors, teachers, parents, carers and youth workers looking for an accessible overthinking support tool. Created by Edita Stiborova.
