I have been told more than once I ruminate too much and it is not helping me move forward emotionally.

Rumination and looking at emotions has been explained to me that both examine issues.

However rumination can involve some patterns of thinking that can be negative and looking at the pessimistic side.

I have read that looking at one’s emotions leads to acceptance and release of negative emotions, while rumination tends to keep you in a rut.

I have found these things listed below may indicate a person maybe ruminating. (I do  all 4.)

• Thinking over a problem many times over a long period of time.
• Not feeling any better than a person did before ruminating.
• Person did not resolve anything after pondering the problem on many occasions.
• Being stuck where person started.

I ruminate when I can’t sleep, which is often, and go over all the mistakes I have made in my life. I know this is not helpful and guarantees little sleep. I wonder if anyone else thinks they ruminate and if it is a problem?

Also, if you don’t ruminate any more, how did you manage that? If you examine your emotions without getting stuck, how do you achieve this?

Leah 

A Moodscope member