Rumination is a common feature of mood disorders, characterized by compulsive thinking and excessive focusing of attention on possible causes and consequences of one's distress (Nolen-Hoeksema et al. 2008).
Rumination is a thought processing disorder meaning that worrisome thoughts or even neutral thoughts are given excess analysis by the person who ruminates.
Depression in bipolar disorder has long been thought to be a state characterized by mental inactivity. However, recent research demonstrates that patients with bipolar disorder engage in rumination, a form of self-focused repetitive cognitive activity, in depressed as well as in manic states.
SSRIs and SNRIs for depression have shown efficacy and would likely help severe rumination.
Rumination involves repetitive thinking or dwelling on negative feelings and distress and their causes and consequences. The repetitive, negative aspect of rumination can contribute to the development of depression or anxiety and can worsen existing conditions.
Rumination syndrome (also known as rumination disorder or merycism) is a feeding and eating disorder in which undigested food comes back up from a person's stomach into his or her mouth (regurgitation). Once the food is back in the mouth, the person may chew it and swallow it again, or spit it out.
The first records of rumination come from the 1500s. It derives from the Latin verb rūmināre, meaning “to chew the cud.” Rūmināre comes from the Latin rūmen, which gives us the English rumen—the first of four compartments in the stomach of ruminant animals.
There aren't any medicines available that effectively treat rumination syndrome. The best way to stop it is to relearn how to eat and digest food properly. This requires diaphragmatic breathing training. A behavioral psychologist usually teaches this, and it's easy to learn.
Untreated, rumination syndrome can damage the tube between your mouth and stomach (esophagus). Rumination syndrome can also cause: Unhealthy weight loss. Malnutrition.
Recent studies have shown that rumination is a powerful predictor of persistent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, to date, the mechanisms by which rumination maintains PTSD symptoms are little understood.
Increased ruminative style of thought has been well documented in borderline personality disorder (BPD); however, less is known about how the content of rumination relates to domains of BPD features.
Rumination was associated with a diagnosis of PTSD. Individuals with PTSD reported greater rumination; rumination was associated with increased likelihood of PTSD diagnosis and PTSD symptom severity. Rumination mediated the effect of thought control strategies (punishment and reappraisal) on PTSD symptom severity.
How Common Is Rumination Disorder? Since most children outgrow rumination disorder, and older children and adults with this disorder tend to be secretive about it out of embarrassment, it is difficult to know exactly how many people are affected. However, it is generally considered to be uncommon.
Rumination is an involuntary engagement strategy and is not a coping style because it is not voluntary.
Meditation can reduce rumination by promoting a calm emotional state and grounding you in the present moment. It also helps identify the connection between thoughts and feelings. When you catch yourself ruminating, sit down, breathe deeply, and focus just on your breathing. Identify – and then avoid -- your triggers.
While rumination syndrome itself is not life-threatening, the problems that develop around the rumination are quite debilitating. Some of these problems include: Heightened GI sensitivity resulting in severe abdominal pain, nausea, bloating and/or pressure that makes having food or fluid in the stomach intolerable.
The main symptom of rumination disorder is the frequent and effortless regurgitation of food, which usually happens 15–30 minutes after eating. People may also experience: a feeling of pressure or the need to belch beforehand. nausea.
Finding a pleasurable activity or distraction often helps break the cycle of rumination. Using some of your own unique interests or self care can help find something that works for you. Mindfulness is a mediation practice that focuses on paying attention to your thoughts.
Self-compassion can be a beautiful — and effective — antidote to rumination.
Rumination is a behavior and not a mental health condition. It's a common symptom in anxiety and mood disorders, though. But it doesn't have to be permanent. You can learn to manage it.
This is known as rumination, which consists of the regurgitation of feed, rechewing, resalivation, and reswallowing.
Many different mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), may involve ruminating thoughts. However, in some cases, rumination may just occur in the wake of a specific traumatic event, such as a failed relationship.
Rumination likely involves a broad range of cognitive and affective subprocesses that are associated with activation in diverse brain regions, including attention, self-referential processing, and recall of autobiographical memories.