Are you ruminating or digesting?

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Do you ever feel like your thoughts get stuck on repeat — endlessly perseverating over the same thing? Until you're so fixated on them, you can't think about anything else?

This is called rumination.

Rumination is a hyper-fixation on a person, situation, thought, or decision that inhibits our basic functioning.

It's a distraction or a pulling away from daily life, getting stuck in our heads. We’re displaced from the "now" and stuck skipping like an old Walkman on your super scratched CD.

BUT HOW DO WE STOP GETTING STUCK HERE?

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Stop underestimating your ability to cope with your own distress.

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I see it all of the time. As humans, it seems to be in our nature to undervalue ourselves and underestimate our ability to handle difficult situations. From dismissing our past achievements and endeavors, minimizing the strengths and abilities we hold within us, and giving our shame-free reign over our lives, we set the stage to be crippled by our distress.

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Don't Ignore The Toddler: The Ways Your Anxiety Will Demand To Be Heard

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We’ve all been through it — directly or not: the toddler demanding attention, calling out for a response when you just need a minute.

“Mom. Mom. Moooooom. M-M-M-Mom. MOM!”

They just want your attention and even though you are just finishing one quick text or getting the food in the oven and will be right with them, that is not fast enough. They have waited…or at least to them it feels like they have waited…and now they want your attention NOW.

This metaphor is a perfect example of your anxiety. All of us have it — the severity may vary but it is there.

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How To Trick Your Brain Into Seeing Anxiety As Excitement

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Did you know that fear and anxiety elicit the exact same physiological response as excitement?

Yep. It’s true.

The only difference is whether or not you assign a "positive" or "negative" correlation to it.

So, the next time you are about to do something that leaves you feeling uneasy, anxious and unsure…

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How is that thought serving you?

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We have all gotten stuck on a thought — ruminating on a particular point until we feel stressed, anxious and overwhelmed.

“I should have said ‘X’.”

“Why didn’t I do ‘Y’'?“

“They probably think I am so stupid.”

Anxiety often thinks it’s being helpful when it keeps bringing things to your attention. “See, this is important” it says, keeping your line of sight right where it wants you to. The problem with that is that anxiety has a very narrow scope of focus. Like a toddler who spots the Lucky Charms and all they can do is think about needing the Lucky Charms, your anxious brain feels like all it can do is think about this thought.

But is it really helpful?

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