Depressive rumination is an abstract, repetitive, analytical and focused process of thought on negative content.
The name of the process derives from the functioning of ruminant animals, so the already chewed and ingested food is reported in the mouth for further chewing.
There depressive rumination It is a process that implies, in fact, that the person continues to reflect on some themes. The contents involved in reflection are typically personal. For example, they can concern the causes of certain events that have occurred in the past and the reflection on what the person could have done different; the causes of certain symptoms or sensations that the person experiences; Or, again, criticism relating to certain characteristics of self, assessed as negative.
Often, the Repeat the question “Why?”.
Depressive rumination is a very expensive process in terms of consumption of cognitive resources. Also, it implies an orientation and focus of attention inner (i.e. on one’s thoughts, sensations and emotions), rather than on the surrounding environment.
Rumination and metacredances
Similarly to what happens in other styles of repetitive thought (e.g. anxious brood, ribs desiring, angry rumination) the use of depressive rumination is supported by the presence of specifications positive metacredancesthat is, from ideas that the person has on the usefulness of adopting this process to achieve a specific purpose.
For example, some people may think that rumin is useful to not repeat certain errors; that rumare is important to improve certain symptoms or modify certain painful affective states; that it is important to solve some problems; That rumin is important to feel “value” people.
Generally, the person is not aware of these metacredances and it is important that in therapy these become explicit. The presence of positive metacredances, similarly to what is detected in other forms of recursive thought, determines the fact that, following certain stimuli, the person begins to ruminate.
Therefore, depressive rumination is configured as Voluntary coping strategy. Trigger stimuli may concern, for example, themes of guilt, personal responsibility, separation, unworthiness or personal inadequacy, failure, mourning, self -proposed, atonement.
Generally what is observed is that the direct and indirect consequences of the ruminative process not only will not allow to achieve the purposes for which the person chooses to implement him, but they will even end up worsening his state, until he confirmed the feared consequences.
What are some of the typical consequences of depressive rumination?
For the mechanisms described above, the use of depressive rumination may imply various negative consequences.
First of all, this process maintains and feeds in this painful affective states relating to the past, often associated with the sense of unworthiness, fault, shame or disgust for oneself.
Also, the person will be able to experience further painful states as a consequence of the fact of not being able to achieve the purposes for which the depressive rumination is implemented. Thus, often there are a sense of impotence and inability. The levels of self -esteem and self -efficacy of the subject are negatively impacted and the negative vision of oneself is fueled.
All this may have some important negative consequences on mood tone.
Also, the resource expenditure required by the ruminative process decreases self -control and hinders the adaptation capacity. The excessive appeal to this coping mode hinders the normal self -regulation process of our mind.
The closure in oneself caused by the focus of attention towards the inside implies loss of flexibility and is an obstacle to creativity. The person closes in himself and the mind becomes less sensitive to external stimuli, until the possibility of becoming waterproof to them.
This mechanism hinders the ability to distract itself from the painful states generated by the initial stimulus and by the rumination itself, in a vicious circle that self -fulfillment.
Withdrawal and avoidance
In addition, depressive rumination promotes the adoption of withdrawal and avoidance conduct; It can hinder services, with also significant repercussions on school and working functioning. Important consequences on interpersonal relationships can be detected, so the person, during interactions with others, is unable to pay enough attention to them. For these reasons it could avoid interacting with others, retreating from relationships, or interacting with other people “ruminating aloud”.
One of the most relevant costs of this process concerns the decreased possibility of connection and tuning with other peopleas well as with the surrounding environment. The person can also withdraw from the practice of pleasant activities for her. In addition, depressive rumination hinders the possibility of adopting functional methods in the face of problems.
Although described it is evident that the quality of life can be hindered, even severely, in all its areas.
The depressive rumination is configured as a predisposing factor, maintenance, aggravation and impact for different symptoms and psychological disorders (e.g., depressive symptoms and disorders, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress, disorders from the use of substances, selfish behaviors), as well as configuring itself as an obstacle to treatment, due to the possible impact on the motivation to change.
Bibliography
- Caselli, G., Ruggero, GM, and Sassaroli, S. (2017). Brood. Repeactive thought theory and therapy. Raffaello Cortina publisher.
- Wells (2009). Metacognitive Therapy for Anxiety and Depression. New York: Guilford Press (trad. It. Metacognitive therapy of anxiety disorders and depression. Erickson, Trento, 2018
