Rumination
Also known as Rumination (psychology), Ruminating
Going over the same negative thoughts and feelings again and again.
- Rumination is the sustained focus on and repetition of negative thoughts and emotions.
- It helps develop and sustain anxiety, depression and other conditions.
- Ruminating tends to focus on feelings rather than on solving the problem.
- Mindfulness-based interventions reduce it, according to meta-analyses of randomized trials.
Why it matters
- Everyone dwells on things sometimes; knowing when that turns into a loop, and what breaks it, is useful for anyone.
- In short
- An endless loop of repetitive thoughts and worries1
- Risk
- A significant risk factor for clinical depression; also linked to anxiety, post-traumatic stress, binge drinking and eating disorders1
- Healthy version
- Talking about feelings in a supportive relationship can reduce distress when it leads to insight1
- Measured with
- The Ruminative Responses Scale: how often you have 22 ruminative thoughts or behaviours when sad1
Rumination or worry?
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Rumination looks back1
Its thoughts concern loss and the past, and come with less confidence in solving the problem.
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Worry looks ahead1
Its thoughts aim at problem-solving about an uncertain future.
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Brooding and reflection1
Brooding is passive and negative and tied to worse depression; reflection is a more neutral, active look at oneself.
What helps
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Ask how, not why1
Rumination-focused CBT has people swap abstract "why" questions for concrete "how" questions that can be answered.
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Mindfulness1
Let the thought arise and pass, and bring attention back to something present, such as the breath.
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Do not just suppress it1
Failed attempts to push particular thoughts away go with stronger rumination.
What people said
The line under a date fills as it gets older: empty when new, full at 2 years.
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David Heinemeier Hansson (opens korrents.com)3
"…rumination will break your brain and render it unfit for the purpose of living."
Connections
Links
Sources
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The line under a date fills as time passes: empty when new, then one equal share each for a day, a week, a month and a year. For episodes and other items it is full at 2 years; for "last checked", at a year. A striped line means the date is known only to the month or year.