Rumination (psychology)

Rumination is a type of repetitive negative thinking that involves focusing on mental distress, its causes, and consequences, rather than solutions. It can also be described as obsessive thinking that interferes with other mental activities.

Challenging rumination via positive thinking and positive self-talk can help lesson/cease rumination. Halting rumination via being more aware of obsessive thinking and replacing rumination with meаningful aсtivities that you have a passion for and that bring you joy аnԁ fulfillment is one way to mitigate/end obsessive thinking. Goal setting is another method to crowd out rumination.

Journal articles

• Thinking too much: rumination and psychopathology, World Psychiatry. 2021 Oct; 20(3): 441–442. Published online 2021 Sep 9. doi: 10.1002/wps.20910

See also

• Obsessive compulsive disorder
• Compulsive thinking
• Pessimism

Antonym concepts:

• Positive thinking
• Optimism

External links

• 12 Tips to Help You Stop Ruminating, Healthline
• What Is Rumination? by Elizabeth Scott, PhD, VeryWellMind.com
• 9 Tips to Help Stop Ruminating, PsycheCentral
• Rumination: A Cycle of Negative Thinking, American Psychological Association