Rumination

Rumination is a repetitive, passive thoughts focused on the causes/effects of our distress, without our engaging in active coping mechanisms or problem-solving strategies that would relieve distress and improve mood. While all of us ruminate at moments, it serves no positive function and can actually worsen stress to the point of adding problems. It’s easy to succumb to rumination when stressed, appearing as if it was about problem solving but in fact not leading to solutions. Examining memories, situations, and feelings can be an important part of processing our experiences, but processing and ruminating are different things and learning how to distinguish between the two can be important for our mental wellbeing.