22/02/2026
ABSTRACT RUMINATION - WHEN OVERTHINKING BECOMES A TRAP
is a maladaptive style of repetitive thinking focused on the "why" of negative experiences, symptoms, or problems. Unlike productive reflection, it involves a high-level, evaluative, and decontextualized focus on the causes, meanings, and consequences of distress rather than the specific details of a situation.
Key Characteristics
• Analytical Focus: It centers on generalized questions like "Why does this always happen to me?" or "What does this say about my character?".
• Decontextualized: Thoughts tend to be global and cross-situational, stripping away the specific context of an event.
• Evaluative: It often involves all-or-nothing thinking and negative self-judgment, such as "I am always a failure".
• Unproductive: Because it lacks specific details, it fails to generate actionable solutions, often leaving individuals "stuck" in a cycle of distress.
