Is it possible to stop ruminating

What kind of crap?

Of course it's possible to stop having those thoughts but you must fill your mind with other thoughts. If you feel like you failed at something it could be just your mind way of telling you to get back at it and try again. If you're holding grudges it may just be your mind way of telling you to make peace with the person. There are reasons why something sticks with us and sometimes it's because we need to take action. Also realize that nobody's perfect and you can't undo the past but for me my mind is at ease when I'm helping others

The hallmark sign of anxiety unfortunately. Maybe learning cbt will help this a lot. 

Nick- I have to agree with the bunch YES you can get oer the redundant issues/experiences you have had in the past- I remember watching a movie in the late 80's and it says it's easier to focus on the negative issues or rejection etc....When you have tasted the world of angst it seems like the typical issue is what causes angst- The brain sadly goes back to those moments reminding you how you felt- whether it means depression/anxiety- It's much like when one has had their first panic attack- they remember to a T what they were doing and how bad it was... Sadly it may happen for no apparent reason- I had it while driving home from college one weekend- I was so excited to get home and have normal food maybe 1 hour in- out of no where- panic attack... felt like the world was shaking- my heart was going to beat too fast and I would die, I would throw up pass out and no one would know how to help me or no one would know I was even in this horrible place-

I then picked this up on an airplane ride to Florida which I had been soooo excited to go with my best friend... the door closed and BOOM- heat up my spine- wave of nausea, thoughts i would pass out- throw up everywhere- I might have a breakdown and embarass myself... WHY I asked myself? I loved to fly and vacation... NOTHING ever happened to me to feel this way on the plane- ( 10 years later I found out why I started with this fear- My mother never took us on vacations she would go on these lavish vacas with her boyfriend of 17 years and I felt I did not deserve to go- She reminded me in her own way I did not deserve this opportunity to go away... she still has little diggs- BUT this was the reason- it was about allowing for the good things because I was trained to believe I did not deserve them-)....

My point is- the recurring thoughts have this special way of bringing up times that may have been difficult- or when you felt like you did something wrong- or being hard on yourself...

It doesn't make sense I get it- BUT it's easier to think of the bad things you may have gone through or felt this way-It happens when you are most vulnerble-

When you catch yourself going down the road of doom and gloom- write down what you were doing or watching etc when this comes up- it's important that you do this- eventually you will understand what this means and it helps you become disassociated to those thoughts as you will learn why you have them...

I tried this advice----BEST suggestion I could ever have gotten many years ago-

Anxiety works the same way- I shared my experiences because they had NO reason to surface yet they did- and when I fought not to have them they were worse- so I decided to let those thoughts and feeling happen- eventaully my fears and recurrent thoughts became less- I did not rush them- I didn't judge myself for having them-

And to Jenn038- it's defintely crap!!

I just had surgery and I already have awful anxiety and since my surgery I've developed like a bug phobia, it's the most awful thing I've ever felt. I'm hallucinating and always hear them. Psych said anesthia really messes with your head so it's normal , but I'm just terrified all the time, I can't sleep, I can't even keep my car door open long cb I'm afraid a bug will fly in. I don't feel safe anywhere I go and it honestly it just makes me want to break down and cry. It's like my mind can get away from the thoughts but then somehow they come back and no matter what I do I can't stop it. It's so irrational and I'm just wondering if anyone has this same feeling, or knows what can help it. I've done everything I know to do besides meds which I'd like to avoid 

Firt you should identify the real causes of your fear or negative thoughts. When discovering them try to imagine the worset situation that coud be but didn't. Set golas for overcoming your fears and overcome them each day.

I use to do this,I had a very bad relationship because of that I wanted my dad (he died 2 years ago) and I always use to run to him to make me feel better (yes I'm a daddy's little princess no matter what age I was lol) it brought back bad feelings,so I went lower and lower into my anxiety/depression I didn't feel good about my self and felt like I was a waste of skin,I started not leaving the house and had panick attacks when I did,that was a month ago I finally had enough I started doing Cbt and using home hypnosis,I went xmas shopping for my kids on a very busy shopping centre today,once your at the bottom the only way is up,find that fight in you and use it against your feelings,my head use to swim constantly I would highly recommend YouTubeing hypnosis for anxiety and do it will your in bed