Is rumination a symptom of depression?

Rumination is one of the most problematic cognitive symptoms associated with depression.

What is depressive rumination?

Depressive rumination, defined as “behavior and thoughts that focus one’s attention on one’s depressive symptoms and on the implications of these symptoms” (Nolen-Hoeksema 1991, p. 569) has been identified as a core process in the onset and maintenance of depression.

What causes depressive rumination?

Why people ruminate Such depressive rumination most often occurs in women as a reaction to sadness, according to research Nolen-Hoeksema conducted with Lisa Butler, PhD, of Stanford University. Men, by comparison, more often focus on their emotions when they’re angry, rather than sad, she said.

Is ruminating a mental illness?

Rumination is sometimes referred to as a “silent” mental health problem because its impact is often underestimated. But it plays a big part in anything from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) to eating disorders.

Is rumination a choice?

On the contrary, rumination is typically viewed as a choice. It’s done to try to figure out where your fears are coming from, what you should believe or what you should do to prevent something bad from happening. To this extent, rumination would then be considered a compulsion.

What does rumination feel like?

Rumination can often feel like a form of obsession, as you may feel like you have no choice in following the train of thought. However, this is because of the negative feelings associated with your obsessions, which often lead you to feel you must engage in a compulsion (like rumination) in order to ease your distress.

What is rumination and how do you deal with depression?

The Association for Psychological Science (APS) explains rumination in depression in the following way: One of the most difficult and paradoxical symptoms of depression is obsessive thinking about the disease itself.

Is it bad to ruminate on Rainbows during depression?

Rumination in Depression Is Harmful. The issue with ruminations in depression that people don’t ruminate on rainbows and unicorns when they’re depressed, they ruminate on very bleak, negative things.

What does rumination mean in terms of obsessive thinking?

Some people are familiar with rumination — the repetition of the same thought in your head over and over — as obsessive thinking. For those who experience it, ruminating may be frustrating and distressing. You may beat yourself up by rehashing negative thoughts such as a missed opportunity, memories of an ex, or that time you misspoke.

Why is rumination considered to be a problem?

“Rumination can be a problem because it rarely offers new insights or solutions on how to handle a situation,” Jodee Virgo writes for The Everygirl. “Instead it emotionally hijacks us and intensifies our negative feelings,” essentially, making us prisoners to our own thoughts, she continues.