Anyone successfully improved rumination?

I recently have been able to put words to and begin to understand this compulsion and how it has run my life for the better part of the last decade. I knew it was an issue for a long time, but I didn’t know there was a term for how my mind worked and that it was related to my OCD. I’ve begun to be able to notice myself engaging in this, and started to work on observing thoughts without engaging, as well as doing exposures for the things that trigger more dramatic and distressing rumination spirals. I have seen a little improvement, but its such a constant in my life that I didnt even try to fight for years, and because of that it feels so all consuming, and often starts happening before i realize what i’m doing. and despite how much I want to overcome this and basically live a real life again, it can be discouraging. I was wondering if anyone has had success dealing with rumination OCD, especially after years of it being one of the main facets of your internal world? I’d like to know if theres a light at the end of the tunnel, and what has worked for others to help get there. I know I may never not have this struggle after so many years of unintentional mental conditioning, but I’d like some hope that things can get better to some extent and I can feel like an active and present participant in my life again, something my rumination has stolen from me for years. Any thoughts are appreciated, wishing everyone the best with their journey.

Epanonymous

Date posted: 28d

The brain is highly malleable. You can get better, it just takes time and the right approach. ❤️ I find Michael Greenberg’s approach helpful. Rumination is an action. You are trying to figure something out because you think you can solve the worry. The issue is, OCD uses flawed logic and unanswerable questions to keep you ruminating forever. The only answer is to drop the thread and focus on something else. Let it be. My mantra is “Stop trying to figure it out.” Good luck honey. Hope this helps.

Amy B.

Date posted: 27d

@Epanonymous I looked up Michael Greenberg and found some really helpful stuff. Thanks for the suggestion.

Epanonymous

Date posted: 26d

@Amy B. ☺️

outsideinsid...

Date posted: Yesterday

@Epanonymous Its been a few weeks but I’ve been looking into this. Its frustrating but helpful (frustrating because i realize how deep the claws of rumination are dug into my brain, especially with how he points out common excuses and traps that I find myself falling into while trying to escape rumination) but i’ve been able to, on occasion, have these moments of peace where i pause my rumination without pushing it away or holding it close. It’s still hard as I feel like I know a lot of the “what” and the “why” of it all, but not much of the “how” to actually put it into practice. Might restart therapy in a few months (i cant now because im out of my home country) and try and get some more practical help on it, but this has been very helpful so i do reccomend to others dealing with the same

Annnyorange

Date posted: 27d

I 100% get you. I thought that it was normal to rethink and ruminate on everything I did. I thought it was just a normal response and that I was just preparing. This is my biggest issue at the moment, it’s hard to rewire your brain after years and years of ruminating.

outsideinsid...

Date posted: 27d

@Annnyorange Its like i dont know what else to do with my brain yet, but I want to get to that point where i can use it for something other than this bs.

Skyler too

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 29d

Yes. You work on it like any compulsion and your internal world changes a bit but it’s worth it.

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Share your thoughts so the Community can respond