Me vs. My Overthinking Brain: A Journey Through Self Doubt

Adefunke Adeniyi
3 min readDec 26, 2024

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There was a time when I found myself standing in front of my mirror, looking at my reflection, questioning everything about who I was and what I could do.

It felt like a quiet storm inside me, an unspoken voice whispering that I wasn't good enough, that I wasn't capable of achieving the things I dreamed of. I had just finished a project, something I had worked hard on, but instead of feeling proud, I only felt a sinking sense of doubt.

"Is this really as good as I think it is? What if I’ve missed something? What if others think it's not enough?"

These questions lingered in my mind, each one more powerful than the last. I thought about the mistakes I had made, the times I felt I had failed, and it was as if every misstep amplified the doubt in my heart. Even the smallest of accomplishments didn’t seem like enough to quiet the noise.

There were moments when I felt paralyzed, unable to make decisions because I couldn't trust myself to choose the right path. I would spend hours overthinking every detail, afraid of making the wrong choice.

The more I doubted myself, the more I stayed stuck. I looked around at others, seeing their confidence and accomplishments, and compared myself to them, thinking that maybe I wasn’t meant to reach that level, that maybe I was destined to fall short.

It wasn’t just about my work; it touched every part of my life. I questioned my relationships, my future, even the simple things like how I was spending my time. In these moments, it felt like I was drowning in a sea of uncertainty, unable to find solid ground.

Self doubt leaves me stuck always. What I thought I had figured out, self doubt has a way of bringing it to zero.

But then, one day, something shifted.

It wasn’t a sudden epiphany, but a quiet realization that self-doubt was a part of being human. It was normal to question myself, but it didn't have to define me.

I started looking at my past, at the challenges I had overcome, the times I had picked myself up when I thought I couldn’t go on. I realized that the things I had achieved were not a fluke, but the result of my effort, my strength, and my resilience.

I reminded myself that growth wasn’t about being perfect, but about learning from mistakes and continuing to move forward.

The more I embraced my imperfections, the more I understood that self-doubt wasn’t a sign of weakness, but a reminder that I was stretching beyond my comfort zone, trying to be better.

Now, when self-doubt creeps in, I try not to fight it, but instead acknowledge it, knowing that it will pass. I don’t let it stop me from moving forward.

I’ve learned that I don’t need to have all the answers right away, and that sometimes, trusting myself, even when it feels hard, is the most important step I can take.

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Adefunke Adeniyi
Adefunke Adeniyi

Written by Adefunke Adeniyi

I am a passionate writer and a media juggernaut. Join me as I navigate adulthood with humor and heart!

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