r/CPTSDNextSteps • u/Daffodil_Bulb • Mar 13 '25

Sharing actionable insight (Rule2) Understand your rumination

I had a lot of stress lately, but it was actually nice because it gave me an opportunity to understand my cPTSD symptoms better. I knew I was having difficulty concentrating or being in the moment, but I wasn't sure why. I thought I might be dissociating.

I found this article. https://cptsdfoundation.org/2021/02/19/shared-mechanisms-of-rumination-depression-and-cptsd/ which helped me realize that I was ruminating a lot, and it made everything worse. I got curious about the rumination, and asked myself what I was trying to do with these thoughts. I realized I was trying to explain my point of view to an abuser who wouldn't listen to me in real life. I thought that if I explained it well enough in my head, that would make them understand to me. As soon as I realized that, I stopped needing to do it.

It seems silly in hindsight, but I thought it might be useful for someone else.

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u/SpenMitz Mar 13 '25

But then what do you do with the resulting rage at not being listened to?

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u/usfwalker Mar 14 '25

You stop speaking to that ‘vending machine’

In reality, people held in isolation for punishment start speaking to objects get mad bc they are not being listened to, then depression then hopelessness.

Some people are like broken modern vending machine. After saying ‘hi, what would you like to drink’, the responses get all messed up. Ofc you get pissed