Thursday, December 17, 2009

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Rumination: A reflection

When I think rumination.
I think of cattle. Chewing the cuds.
But then it occurred to me, that psychologically, we ruminate.
Thinking and thinking about something over and over again.

Like when I was scheduled for my endoscopy, I went online and looked it up over 50 times the week before. As if re-reading the account of someone else on WEBMD.com would make it easier for me to deal with.

From a psychological perspective, women are known to give in to rumination more than men. It is tied to mental health issues like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, naturally. Certain SSRI's and MAOI's are supposed to help deal with these issues.

I think though, it's time to teach patients how to deal withOUT the Serotonin boosts. I can be super happy and still ruminate. Like ruminating on what you are going to wear to an event you are excited about (Yes, superficial and ridiculous). Or ruminating on how you are going to spend New Years Eve this year. Ruminating on your admissions to Graduate School and whether or not you are cut out for it. Not necessarily negative things, yet still in the rumination category.

How do you assess if you are ruminating or not?


One simple question: Are you moving FORWARD?
If you think about a problem for more than 5 minutes, you are a ruminator?
Maybe we should up that to ten.....