Rumination is a complex process involving regurgitation, remastication, insalivation, and deglutition. It is initiated by the “rumination area,” located close to the gastric center in the medulla oblongata.
Therapies for conditions like O.C.D., anxiety and certain types of depression — which can include cognitive behavioral therapy, antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, light therapy or writing out your feelings — are all useful in reducing rumination, he said.
The act of rumination is defined as the tendency to repetitively and passively analyze problems, concerns or feelings of distress without taking any actions to make positive changes. It often involves negative thoughts or bad memories.
Coping styles such as toxic brooding or rumination may be due to negative experiences in childhood or adolescence that cause a person to have trouble coping with their thoughts. Rumination is a style of coping that is mostly counterproductive until it is replaced with more positive coping styles.
Medical histories of patients with rumination syndrome suggest that the symptoms often begin with some "triggering" event. This can be a viral infection, a GI disease, or even stress happening in the patient's life.
Rumination is one of the co-occurring symptoms found both in anxiety disorders and depression. It is often a primary symptom in Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. When people are depressed, the themes of rumination are typically about being inadequate or worthless.
Rumination is persistent and repetitive thinking that is usually looking backward and more associated with depression; worry is persistent and repetitive thinking that is usually looking forward and more associated with anxious apprehension.
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.
For example, some ruminative thoughts include "why am I such a loser", "I'm in such a bad mood" or "I just don't feel like doing anything". There exist several types of rumination. State rumination, which involves dwelling on the consequences and feelings associated with the failure.
Increased activity in the amygdala is associated with overactive emotional responses and rumination. As part of the limbic system, a more “primitive” or older part of the brain, the amygdala may be involved in the “bottom-up” processing of negative, recurring thoughts.
According to Dr. Hanson, antidote thoughts are positive memories and affirmations that distract from the rumination. You can disrupt the negative thought loop with an infusion of positivity. It's a way of forcing your brain to practice the opposite emotion of what you're feeling.
If we think about the situation in a new way, we can sometimes stop the ruminative cycle. One way to think about the situation in a new way is to use cognitive reappraisal. Cognitive reappraisal is the act of shifting our thoughts to shift our emotions.
Rumination is not solely experienced by OCD sufferers. Everyone with a human brain engages in rumination at some point or other. However, it is a very common behavior found in those who experience generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, health anxiety, and even depression.
Overthinking in all its forms, including rumination and worrying, comes from many sources. It can come from trying to control a situation, trying to get more clarity about what to do next, or trying to predict what will happen to reduce our anxiety. A common underlying theme is discomfort with uncertainty.
The condition has long been known to occur in infants and people with developmental disabilities. It's now clear that the condition isn't related to age, as it can occur in children, teens and adults. Rumination syndrome is more likely to occur in people with anxiety, depression or other psychiatric disorders.
Ruminating thoughts are excessive and intrusive thoughts about negative experiences and feelings. There are many strategies to help stop rumination. Many different mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), may involve ruminating thoughts.
The signs and symptoms of rumination syndrome include: Regurgitating and re-chewing food on a regular basis. Digestive problems, such as indigestion and stomach aches. Dental problems, such as bad breath and tooth decay.
Rumination is regurgitation of ingesta from the reticulum, followed by remastication and reswallowing.