Page 88 - SARAHANA

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It’s a profound thought about something. It’s a process of delicately thinking or
meditating over something. Rumination: A mental illness it is often deemed a
psychological problem of an agitated mind, as its impact is sometimes miscalculated.
It plays a huge role in anything from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) to eating
disorders.

Rumination in digestion: Causes
It appears to be caused by the rise in abdominal pressure, Rumination syndrome is
habitually confused with bulimia nervosa (a life-threatening eating disorder),
gastroesophageal reflux (which is a digestive disorder in which stomach acid or bile
irritates the food pipe lining, GERD). It may also be confused with gastroparesis (partial
paralysis of the stomach where the stomach cannot empty itself of food normally).
Rumination: A form of anxiety for few people, rumination is an impermanent
depressing experience. In contrast, for others, it is as though they feel like their mind is
out – of – control or rebellious, directing to depression, melancholy or anxiety.
Rumination may reinforce a negative self-image, feelings of shame and cause the
person suffering from it chronic guilt.

FEELING STUCK IN AN INFINITE LOOP OF THOUGHTS?
Rumination involves negative self-image and self-concept, questioning your own
abilities and always doubting your environment. For example -
BUT WHAT IF……
I’m not good enough….. Everyone is doing much better than me…..No one I know
cares about me……
I am a loser……I don’t deserve anyone……I think I will remain like this forever…..

Why do we ruminate?
It may be our natural response to a problematic situation. Just like cows and buffaloes,
when we ruminate, we regurgitate mental content over and over again in our minds.
Due to its nature, these many inconsequential thoughts are considered necessary for
the personal narrative to justify our decisions.

How is rumination different from our regular thoughts?
It is frequent, it is self – centred, it is passive, focussing on problems, ignoring
solutions, occurs randomly. The focus is on irrational thoughts.
How to address ruminating thoughts?

Try some grounding techniques:
Be mindful of what you do, do some yoga, exercise, and meditation, vent it out to a
trusted one: Talk to your friend, family member, parent or a therapist, decide wisely
on who you choose to open up to, stop linking small goals to big goals: bad grades =
a horrible future, break the chain of thoughts by forcing yourself to commit to tasks
that matter, question your thought process: Ask yourself, is it worth your time or effort
pondering over an irrational thought?
Set aside some time for yourself: At least for about 30-40 minutes every day.
Create positive thoughts to be a better emotional space: This can be done by doing
something you enjoy, such as reading or watching something funny, listening to BTS
songs, journal your thoughts instead of pondering over them: Keep a separate book
for writing your thoughts down or write it down in chits so that after writing it, you
can destroy it or dump it into the trash.