Can Mental Imagery Distract Us From Negative Rumination?
Rumination, a repetitive thought pattern, is a risk factor for depression and other mental illnesses. Previously, studies have shown that positive or neutral distraction can decrease rumination.
The current study examined whether training individuals to exert executive control when processing negative stimuli can alleviate rumination and a ruminative mood. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two training conditions.
What is rumination?
Rumination is the mental process of thinking over and over about a situation or a person. This can be an effective way to make sense of a difficult situation, but for some people it can become a habit and can be debilitating.
It is also associated with a number of psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
The main clinical features of rumination are negative feelings, low mood, poor concentration, loss of appetite, decreased energy and suicidal ideations.
Another common problem with ruminating is that it can disrupt the quality of sleep for those suffering from insomnia or anxiety. These patients may feel worried or anxious during the day and then start ruminating at night as they try to go to sleep.
Diaphragmatic breathing is the first-line treatment for rumination syndrome and is effective in relieving symptoms like regurgitation. However, it must be diagnosed correctly before the use of this treatment can be recommended.
How can mental imagery distract us from negative rumination?
Researchers have found that mental imagery can help distract us from negative rumination. The technique works because it allows us to re-imagine an event or situation that we may be ruminating about.
In addition, visual imagery can retrain our brain to focus on positive information instead of negative. This may lead to better mood and overall wellness.
One study found that when students visualized a positive experience, they were more likely to seek help for their problems. The same technique was effective for athletes who were having difficulty improving their performance.
Rumination is a common mental habit that can lead to depression and other emotional problems. It can also increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
What are the benefits of mental imagery?
Mental imagery is a common and effective tool to distract us from negative rumination. It is a highly affective, physiologically stimulating and realistic/vivid process.
Moreover, it is known to be effective in reducing depression, anxiety and stress. It also improves cognitive flexibility, emotional awareness and coping strategies.
However, the benefits of mental imagery are often overlooked in practice and clinical settings. For example, patients suffering from chronic neuropathic pain may struggle to develop their own mental imagery strategies for pain relief.
Therefore, this study sought to assess the effect of laterality training and hypnosis in treating central neuropathic pain after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACL). A primary search was conducted using combinations of keywords such as “mental imagery,” “GI,” “hypnosis,” “central neuropathic pain,” “pain relief,” “visual illusion” and “spinal cord injury.” The literature was reviewed thoroughly. After that, a protocol was developed to test the effectiveness of mental imagery exercises after ACL surgery. It was a double-blind randomized control trial.
What are the risks of mental imagery?
If you have ever visualised a red door for a few seconds, then it’s pretty obvious that you were in a perceptual state, which is just another way of saying that you were in a psychological state. It’s also clear that such states are not always veridical – for one, they can include illusions and hallucinations.
Similarly, psychological disorders that involve a number of cognitive deficits can often be traced to abnormalities in mental imagery. These include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social phobia and bipolar disorder.
These findings have led to a greater focus on assessing mental imagery ability in individuals with various psychopathology diagnoses. This is to obtain a better understanding of the neurocognitive bases of such representations, and to help identify the precise brain processes that disrupt them in these conditions. Ultimately, this should lead to a more effective treatment for these patients. This would be particularly useful, given that mental imagery can be a significant factor in the recovery process from these conditions.
