#157 The Psychology of Rumination | Why We Get Stuck on Negative Thoughts (& How to Break Free) episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 17, 2026 · 13 MIN

#157 The Psychology of Rumination | Why We Get Stuck on Negative Thoughts (& How to Break Free)

from Keegan and Company · host Keegan Hipgrave

Ever been stuck on a thought you can't shake? This episode will help you understand why that happens and what you can actually do about it. This week on the pod we break down the psychology of rumination - what happens when we get stuck on a thought and can't move past it. We've all been there. An injury, a breakup, someone who did wrong by you, a thought that just keeps circling. You replay it, reframe it, spiral on it - and somehow feel worse than when you started. In this solo episode we define what rumination actually is, the traits and life events that make us more prone to it, the difference between rumination and healthy emotional processing, and the science-backed strategies that help us break the cycle. We also get into the Two Wolves analogy, Andy Buchanan's mid-marathon anchoring technique, and a simple visualisation that's been a genuine game changer. Resources: https://www.verywellmind.com/repetitive-thoughts-emotional-processing-or-rumination-3144936 https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/rumination-a-cycle-of-negative-thinking https://stoptransingkids.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/nolen-hoeksma-2008.pdfSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Feb 17, 2026

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

#157 The Psychology of Rumination | Why We Get Stuck on Negative Thoughts (& How to Break Free)

0:00 13:09

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Keegan and Company?

This episode is 13 minutes long.

When was this Keegan and Company episode published?

This episode was published on February 17, 2026.

Can I download this Keegan and Company episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!