Rumination may be a precursor to depression.

A new small study at the University of Illinois found that young people between 18 and 23 who ruminated a lot were more likely to have episodes of depression. Check it out here.

Editor's note: Correlation is not causation. People who are sensitive, stewers, brooders, deep thinkers may be more prone to sadness and anxiety because they take life more seriously and don't just blow everything off.

It is helpful sometimes to develop a "thicker skin", let more crap "roll off your back", and learn mind control techniques to spot the "stinking thinking" and deliberately put your mind on positive things.

Mindfulness is all the rage right now, and practicing mindfulness techniques may very well be helpful.

Sometimes praying helps and having a rich interior spiritual life to fall back on when feelings get hurt and life is unfair.

Worrying and ruminating about stuff is helpful up to a point but when it comes to spinning your wheels it makes things worse.

Lightening up and laughing things off can be a big help. When you start to lose your sense of humor it may be an early sign that things are buildlng up and you need a break.