The trap of rumination: Isolation can lead South African youth to mental loop.
Rumination is the process of replaying negative thoughts or memories in the mind often leads to feeling stuck. This process is caused by the numerous factors; however, this blog article will explore the idea of isolation leading to rumination. South African youth isolate themselves socially with an idea of peace of mind not aware that they could be mentally harming themselves.
How rumination looks like
Is it possible to isolate yourself, bed rotting and remain mentally stable? After tertiary exams, Yolanda who was a third-year student started to isolate herself from every living thing. She thought she was resting but she was digging a hole grave for her mind. She was buried in her bed, glued to her phone, and imprisoned in her mind. She would, apply for internships and receive rejections from various companies. Rejections added more distress.
That was her daily pattern. The more she stays indoors the more her thoughts became louder. She dwelled in the past and worried about the future. Unknowingly, she fell into the trap of rumination. But the Bible reminds us that even in our lowest He is with us, and He sees us. “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18
According to a TikTok video posted by @Clearmind talks, “the more you stay home the less you want to leave.The more you stay the heavier everything feels.” This video also states that when a person is ruminating, the brain slows down and slowly you stop wanting to do anything.