TITLE

How to Stop Ruminating

Stuck in a mental loop of worries and problems that seem to have no end? Here’s what you can do.

DESCRIPTION

While worrying and overthinking are normal, when this type of thinking becomes excessive, we then can experience a number of psychological symptoms.  “If you find that your thoughts are so excessive and overwhelming that you can’t seem to stop them, or if they’re so distracting that you’re falling behind on responsibilities at work or at home, you’re probably experiencing rumination, said Dr. Tracey Marks, a psychiatrist in private practice in Atlanta….. If you realize, “I don’t want to be thinking about this, but I feel like I can’t stop,” that’s when you know your thinking is compulsive and is considered rumination…Rumination also tends to occur alongside many mental health conditions including O.C.D., anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. People with depression who ruminate also tend to experience worse depression, and for longer, Dr. Siegle said.”  The article provides information from a number of studies that demonstrate how rumination can become debilitating though in some instances can be helpful if the individual knows how to make it a useful tool.  The last part of the article is very helpful in that it provides many helpful ways to break the rumination negative cycle.

SOURCE

New York Times, February 1, 2023, by Hannah Seo

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/01/well/mind/stop-rumination-worry.html?smid=em-share

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/5h49fvn9

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

•What is rumination?  Provide 3 examples.

•How can rumination lead to psychological difficulties?  What types of issues might an individual experience due to excessive ruminating?

•What are some techniques to break the negative cycle of ruminating?