Quieting the loop

3 min read

Rumination is going over the same thoughts again and again as if this time you will find the answer. It feels productive. It usually only makes you tired and sad.

You cannot force the thoughts away, but you can change what your attention is doing. Give the loop a time. Ten minutes in the evening to think and write, and outside of that window, you write the thought down and say “later.”

Use your hands and your senses: cook, wash dishes, garden, draw. Tasks that fill your hands make it harder for the mind to loop. Talking to someone also helps, especially when they ask questions and do not just agree.

If the same thoughts have kept you from sleeping or working for weeks, a therapist can help you with tools built for this.