REPEATED THINKING CAN BE NORMAL AND HELPFUL [MENTAL HEALTH]

It is important to recognise that dwelling on problems and losses is a normal and universal process. We all do it. When something does not go to plan or we experience an expected loss or setback. , it is typical to think about it. We need to spend time dwelling on upsetting events in order to come to terms with them.

Following bereavement , for example, we need spend time about the person we have lost, and feeling sad about them. If we have been rejected by a partner or lost a job, it is natural to spend time dwelling on what has gone wrong and on how we feed.

Part of how our minds work is that our attention focused on unresolved goals.. This focus is valuable in helping us to be aware of problems , and it can drive successful planning and problem-solving.

So what is the difference between this helpful process of repetitive thought, and what we call rumination ?

The normal process seems to become a problem when we use it too much, when we find it difficult to control how much we are ruminating , or if we are using it in ways that don’t help us.

The trick , as with many things, is knowing when and how to keep thinking about difficulties , and when not to .