Based on current evidence, the function of ruminative thinking is to focus on those events that may interfere with goal achievement (or goal avoidance) in order to facilitate progression toward relevant goals. In particular, rumination seems to serve goals at an intermediate level in the goal hierarchy.

rumination is the process by which the organism brig back the consumed food back into its mouth and chew it over an over again and such organisms are called ruminants. examples :- cows. sheep etc. bolivianouft and 177 more users found this answer helpful.

Rumination or cud-chewing is the process by which the cow regurgitates previously consumed feed and chews it further. The larger particles in the rumen are sorted by the reticulorumen and reprocessed in the mouth to decrease particle size which in turn increases the surface area of the feed.

It is the floating, large particles on top of the rumen which are re-chewed. One purpose of rumination is to decrease particle size and increase surface area of the feed. This results in an increase in digestion rate of feed and a decrease in the lag time prior to fermentation.

Depressive rumination, defined as “behaviour and thoughts that focus one’s attention on one’s depressive symptoms and on the implications of these symptoms” (Nolen-Hoeksema, 1991, p. 569) has been identified as a core process in the onset and maintenance of depression.

The process of continuously thinking about the same thoughts, which tend to be sad or dark, is called rumination. A habit of rumination can be dangerous to your mental health, as it can prolong or intensify depression as well as impair your ability to think and process emotions.

Rumination may also be a sign of other mental health conditions. For example, a person struggling with codependence may ruminate on fears of abandonment, while a person with an eating disorder may be unable to stop thinking about their diet and exercise regimen.

The best medications for managing rumination are those that treat an underlying mental health condition such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder….Some SNRIs include:

• Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
• Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)
• Venlafaxine (Effexor)

5 Techniques to Stop Overthinking Mistakes

1. Be kind to yourself.
2. Accept yourself unconditionally.
3. Recognize that your failures make you human and allow you to connect with other people.
4. Engage in mindfulness when you realize that you are being judgmental or negative about yourself.

For example, some ruminative thoughts include “why am I such a loser”, “I’m in such a bad mood” or “I just don’t feel like doing anything”.

Rumination worsens negative moods and interferes with our problem-solving capacity. Yale University researchers have also found that people who ruminate are more likely to become and stay depressed.

If overthinking is ruining your life, and if you think you may be spiralling into depressed or anxious territory because of your thoughts, then speaking to a therapist will support you in making sense of your world.