Mine was having the sudden urge to hurl a random toddler who was teetering over the edge of a waterfall.

  • SirSamuel@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    I think the word you’re looking for is ruminate. The word comes from ruminant animals like cows, who partially digest fibrous plants, regurgitate them, and “chew cud”. Which is what we do when we regurgitate negative memories.

    My tool, which works for me but i am not a mental health expert, is this:

    When i find that I’ve entered a ruminant thought cycle, I’ll start asking these questions and working through it logically

    • Does this memory have something beneficial to teach me in this moment?
    • Can I learn any more from this memory?
    • The moment is in the past, and I’m alive here and now
    • I am the only one who still remembers
    • This memory is no longer useful, I will think about something else
    • I’ll think about something now, because I’m alive now

    I’m sorry your psychologist was ineffective. A good one can be hard to find

    • Lemminary@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      the word you’re looking for is ruminate

      I do! I can’t believe I used the wrong one, that’s embarrassing. Thanks for the tips and the correction!