Rumination (psychology)

Rumination (psychology)

Rumination is the focused attention on the symptoms of one's distress, and on its possible causes and consequences, as opposed to its solutions. Rumination is similar to worry except it focuses on bad feelings and experiences from the past, whereas worry is concerned with potential bad events in the future. Both rumination and worry are associated with anxiety and other negative emotional states.

Definition and types

Rumination has been widely defined as a mode of responding to distress that involves repetitively and passively focusing on symptoms of distress and on the possible causes and consequences of these symptoms. Rumination is more common in people who are pessimistic, neurotic, and who have negative cognitive style. Rumination is also common in individuals with chronic stress.

Rumination has been divided into two subtypes: brooding and reflection. Brooding is a maladaptive form of rumination, involving dwelling on one's problems without making any progress in solving them. Reflection, on the other hand, is a more adaptive form of rumination, involving turning inward to engage in cognitive problem-solving to alleviate one's depressive symptoms.

Effects

Rumination is associated with a variety of negative consequences, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, binge-eating, and alcohol abuse. It is also a transdiagnostic risk factor for the development of psychopathology.

Treatment

Several forms of treatment have been shown to reduce rumination, including cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and behavioral activation. These treatments can help individuals learn to replace ruminative thinking with more adaptive ways of responding to stress.

See also

• Depression (mood)
• Anxiety disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
• Behavioral activation

References

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External links

• "8 Tips to Stop Ruminating" from Psychology Today

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Rumination (psychology)

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