If you’re thinking, “Why do I repeat conversations in my head?” you’re not alone. It’s called rumination — and it’s not that uncommon.
When this happens, it’s natural to think you’d do anything to give your mind a rest… if only you knew where to find the magic “off” button. It’s not uncommon to feel this way.
What’s rumination?
The word “rumination” describes a process of having certain thoughts on repeat.
For some people, ruminating thoughts are a way to control anxiety. It may mean you’re replaying life events in an attempt to make sure that next time, you’re prepared and won’t feel as anxious.
Repeating entire conversations in your head is a type of rumination. It’s how your mind attempts to self-soothe.
The more you replay the details of a conversation, the more you may feel you can interpret what happened. You may also find that this helps you plan for a future outcome. It’s an attempt to reduce the anxiety that event may be causing you.
The challenge, though, is that rumination can be a difficult treadmill to get off, once you’ve stepped on. It can consume your entire day and make it difficult to stay rooted in the present moment.
But the process isn’t always voluntary, and in any case, you can learn to manage it.
Rumination may also be a symptom of mental health conditions:
generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
major depressive disorder (MDD)
phobias
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
postpartum depression or psychosis
To be a symptom of these or other conditions, rumination needs to be present with other specific symptoms. On its own, it may only mean you’re experiencing anxiety about a particular event, and that happens to everyone.
What’s anticipatory anxiety?
Anticipatory anxiety is when you experience gloom, dread, or stress when you think about something that hasn’t happened yet.
For example, if you live with panic disorder, you experience anticipatory anxiety about having another panic attack. It hasn’t happened yet, but you dread that it may or will happen.
When this happens, it’s natural to think you’d do anything to give your mind a rest… if only you knew where to find the magic “off” button. It’s not uncommon to feel this way.
What’s rumination?
The word “rumination” describes a process of having certain thoughts on repeat.
For some people, ruminating thoughts are a way to control anxiety. It may mean you’re replaying life events in an attempt to make sure that next time, you’re prepared and won’t feel as anxious.
Repeating entire conversations in your head is a type of rumination. It’s how your mind attempts to self-soothe.
The more you replay the details of a conversation, the more you may feel you can interpret what happened. You may also find that this helps you plan for a future outcome. It’s an attempt to reduce the anxiety that event may be causing you.
The challenge, though, is that rumination can be a difficult treadmill to get off, once you’ve stepped on. It can consume your entire day and make it difficult to stay rooted in the present moment.
But the process isn’t always voluntary, and in any case, you can learn to manage it.
Rumination may also be a symptom of mental health conditions:
generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
major depressive disorder (MDD)
phobias
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
postpartum depression or psychosis
To be a symptom of these or other conditions, rumination needs to be present with other specific symptoms. On its own, it may only mean you’re experiencing anxiety about a particular event, and that happens to everyone.
What’s anticipatory anxiety?
Anticipatory anxiety is when you experience gloom, dread, or stress when you think about something that hasn’t happened yet.
For example, if you live with panic disorder, you experience anticipatory anxiety about having another panic attack. It hasn’t happened yet, but you dread that it may or will happen.