
What is rumination?
Rumination is a characteristic of OCD that involves excessive thinking, worrying, and analyzing and is classified as a mental compulsion. Those with OCD ruminate in an attempt to gain control over their lives or combat the fear of uncertainty. Unfortunately, it can make the OCD worse because it reinforces the often scary intrusive thoughts and keeps you stuck in an exhausting mental loop.
It is possible to stop rumination, though you don’t want to engage in any thought stopping of your intrusive thoughts. A good ERP therapist can help you sort this out and many other treatment concepts as you pursue mental and emotional wellness.
We hope that sharing vocabulary can dispel some of the myths and mystery surrounding OCD and help you feel more informed, knowledgeable, and empowered. What other terms would you like to see explained?