[SoftTalker]

I agree. I know a guy who is just brilliantly smart but he can get caught up in ruminating or "thought spirals" as you say and is constantly imagining all the ways things can go wrong and is therefore afraid to take any risks or start anything new.

[Foobar8568]

That's the case of my 10yo.

That though of spirals is really a scary thing.

[Tade0]

That's a specific problem that can be addressed. Here's a <1 minute summary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRvbh8xCi4w

[Foobar8568]

It has nothing to do with the problem.

[Tade0]

That's exactly the mechanism how they form. Happens to children as well.

[burningChrome]

Is this the classic "paralysis by analysis"?