Rumination
When your mind replays the same thought on an endless loop — like a song stuck in your head, but painful.
The pattern of replaying thoughts, events, or worries over and over in the mind without reaching a resolution. Like a song stuck on repeat — but instead of music, it is self-criticism, worst-case scenarios, or past mistakes. Not productive problem-solving. Common in depression, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD. Driven by default mode network overactivity.
How it works
Your brain's default mode network gets caught in a feedback loop, replaying events, worries, or self-criticisms without reaching resolution. Each replay reinforces the neural pathway, making the thought stickier. It's a feature of depression, anxiety, and OCD.
Think of it like
It's like a washing machine stuck on spin — the same contents go round and round, getting no cleaner.
What it feels like
You can't stop thinking about it, even though thinking about it doesn't help. The loop feels inescapable, and trying to 'just stop' makes it louder.