THERAPY LINGO EXPLAINED: "RUMINATION"

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You may find that when you seek mental health treatment, that you will discover unfamiliar terminology.

Rumination is most commonly associated with anxiety, but not always. Most of us have experienced rumination in our lifetime, without knowing the clinical term. When you ruminate on something, it means that you are focusing your mental energy there. Additionally most of us ruminate on negative or anxious feelings. 

The next time you are anxious about missing a flight, preparing for a test, or worried about something you said or did on a date, you may find that you are ruminating. Sometimes we can't put a thought or worry aside. Again, this is rumination. Your therapist can you find techniques to reduce ruminating thoughts, because they can be exhausting over time.

Knowing the correct terminology to describe your symptoms will ensure good communication between you and your clinician.