Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Rumination refers to compulsively focused attention on the symptoms of one's distress, and on its possible causes and consequences, as opposed to its solutions.
A disorder characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and/or actions (compulsions). It's like having an internal bully who won't stop nagging you with certain thoughts or behaviors.
A mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities causing significant impairment in daily life. It's akin to living under a dark cloud where everything seems dull and uninteresting.
A self-regulation practice that focuses on training attention and awareness in order to bring mental processes under greater voluntary control. It's like being the calm eye of a storm, aware of everything happening around you but not getting swept up in it.