What is Rumination?

 

I suppose that depends upon who you ask.  If you ask a rancher, farmer, or veterinarian they will likely discuss the act that ruminants are plant eating mammals that have developed a specialized digestion process that allows them to eat food quickly and store it a large chamber of their stomach (called the rumen).  In the rumen the food is stored until the animal is at rest.  At that point, the plant food is regurgitated and chewed again while the animal is resting.  This is called rumination, and it is theorized that this allows herbivores to spend as little time as possible feeding (looking down and being vulnerable to predation) and then later spend time digesting their food when it is safer.  

 

On the other hand, if you ask a mental health specialist they are likely to tell you that rumination is over-focus on one’s distress, possible causes, possible solutions, and possible consequences.  It occurs when someone chews on their worries over-and-over.  In fact, the word “ruminant” is derived from the Latin word “ruminate,” which means to chew over again.  

 

For this article, I am referring to this later use of the term. 

 

Why We Ruminate About Unpleasant Thoughts

 

The unpleasant thoughts themselves are not the problem AND rumination is not the problem.  It is our response to the unpleasant emotions and thoughts that causes rumination to become a problem.  

 

Let me attempt to explain.  Every experience, thought, feeling, and physical sensation triggers thousands of neurons to form neuron networks.  As a survival mechanism, thoughts, feelings, body sensation, and behaviors form these strong neuron connections so that we can remember important events.  When you repeat an experience over and over, the brain utilizes these same neuron connections and soon the physical sensations, thoughts, and emotional feelings are triggered in one well orchestrated bundle. Over time, with repeat, theses neuron “bundles” become easier and easier to trigger.  Imagine a theatre stage.  An electrician bundles the lighting electrical wires so that the stagehand only has to flip one switch to turn on all of the stage lights, instead of flipping ten light switches.  It is very efficient.  

 

Anyone who has mastered a sport or musical instrument can relate - it becomes “fluid” or “automatic” with repeated practice.  In fact, athletes and performers can close their eyes, imagine going through the moves, and actually trigger this cascade of neuron connections.  

 

This is critical to survival, because we need to remember how to find our food and water sources, how to make fire and shelter, and how to respond quickly to a predator.  This is a normal part of being human…a normal part of survival.  See article on Habits (LINK).  

 

These strong body-mind connections are formed in response to both positive and negative experiences.  However, as part of a survival mechanism, our brains are specifically attuned to the negative experiences (like velcro).  Each time we experience fear, anxiety, sadness, loss, embarrassment - the  neuron connections (emotions + thoughts + physical sensations) grow stronger. A well orchestrated response.  It becomes “fluid” or “automatic.”  

 

I Must Do Something

 

Our brain is also equipped to be an excellent problem-solver.  In fact, from the time you wake up your brain spends the day “solving” problems: how to make food, how to clean, how to get to work, etc.  If you happen to take a wrong turn, your brain solves the problem and gets you to your destination.  Handy.  Well…most of the time it is handy.  It is not always handy in relation to negative emotions.  

 

Let me explain.  Unhappiness is not inherently THE problem.  Unhappiness (and an array of other emotions) is a normal part of life…a normal part of the human condition.  Unpleasant emotions are not limited to this decade of human existence.  Humans have had the capacity to feel and experience unpleasant emotions for thousands of years.  It is normal and a natural response to certain situations.  Left on its own…such emotions will pass.  

 

In fact, very few things in life are permanent.  Emotions are not permanent.  Even those emotions we want to keep permanent will not stay forever.  Change is a law of nature.  Good things and bad things come and pass and come again.