"Many of our daily thoughts are repetitive. We tend to think about the same things day after day, including ways to meet our basic needs, plans for our days, and our relationships. These types of repetitive thoughts aren't problematic or cause for concern; indeed, they are how life gets done! Other repetitive thoughts-sometimes called obsessive thoughts, looping thoughts, or rumination-are more difficult to manage."
"The American Psychiatric Association defines rumination as "repetitive thinking or dwelling on negative feelings and distress and their causes and consequences." Rumination is unhealthy because it traps us in unproductive thought loops: We feel bad, we focus on feeling bad, this makes us feel worse, and we ruminate even more. This loop of distress reduces productive processing and impairs calm, reasoned problem-solving."
Many daily thoughts are repetitive and serve practical purposes, such as meeting needs, planning, and managing relationships. Other repetitive thoughts—called obsessive thoughts, looping thoughts, or rumination—focus on negative feelings and their causes and consequences. Rumination traps people in unproductive thought loops that amplify distress, reduce productive processing, impair calm, reasoned problem-solving, and contribute to increased anxiety, depression, lowered self-esteem, and unhealthy coping behaviors. Rumination is linked to negative mental and physical health outcomes. Mindfulness and in-the-moment and proactive strategies can train attention away from rumination and toward the present moment.
Read at Psychology Today
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