Rumination
how to stop thinking about it
Rumination is repetitive dwelling on distress without moving toward action or resolution. It differs from reflection in outcome: reflection produces a decision, rumination produces another lap. It is among the strongest predictors of prolonged low mood.
What to do about it
Give the thought a decision or a deadline. Circling counts as neither.
Books that work on this
Each is a 90-day programme. Start with the first — later books assume the work in the earlier ones.
Stop Overthinking Now$6.99
Stop The Replay$6.99
The Mind Reset Blueprint$6.99
Stop Renting Attention$6.99
Stop Auditing Yourself$6.99
The Clear Head$6.99
The Connection Blueprint$6.99
Marriage Is Job$6.99Part of the Mind Reset series.
How people say it
Nobody looks this up by its clinical name. These are the ways it actually gets said.
- I cannot stop overthinking
- replaying conversations in my head
- brain will not shut off at night
- stuck on something someone said
- overthinking everything
- I lie awake going over it
- how to stop thinking about it
- same thought on a loop
- I obsess over mistakes
Written by Brian Spiker, who has run Spiker Carpet and Tile Care since 2013 — the receipts. More terms in the encyclopedia.