Meditation can be harmful – and can even make mental health problems worse

[Still Waters]

Quote

Since mindfulness it’s something you can practice at home for free, it often sounds like the perfect tonic for stress and mental health issues. Mindfulness is a type of Buddhist-based meditation in which you focus on being aware of what you’re sensing, thinking and feeling in the present moment.

The first recorded evidence for this, found in India, is over 1,500 years old. The Dharmatrāta Meditation Scripture, written by a community of Buddhists, describes various practices and includes reports of symptoms of depression and anxiety that can occur after meditation.

https://theconversation.com/meditation-can-be-harmful-and-can-even-make-mental-health-problems-worse-230435

[Grim Reaper 6]

9 minutes ago, Still Waters said:

https://theconversation.com/meditation-can-be-harmful-and-can-even-make-mental-health-problems-worse-230435

I have meditated almost every day successfully since approximately 1976, I have never experienced any form of anxiety or depression afterwards. So, I guess I must be different than others, which seems kind of strange to me.

[Piney]

@Sherapy This is your expertise. 

[Abramelin]

1 hour ago, Grim Reaper 6 said:

I have meditated almost every day successfully since approximately 1976, I have never experienced any form of anxiety or depression afterwards. So, I guess I must be different than others, which seems kind of strange to me.

Then you belong to the 90% who do not experience negative side-effects.

[Megaro]

9 minutes ago, Abramelin said:

Then you belong to the 90% who do not experience negative side-effects.

The splash headline of the article is a bit at odds with the results of the study.

Keep on meditating !

[+Desertrat56]

3 hours ago, Still Waters said:

https://theconversation.com/meditation-can-be-harmful-and-can-even-make-mental-health-problems-worse-230435

Mindfulness is not a useful meditation.   It can be useful when you are working on deprogramming your triggers but it is not useful as a daily practice.   I didn't think it was considered meditation, but I can see from the article how it was used that way.   

[+Desertrat56]

3 hours ago, Grim Reaper 6 said:

I have meditated almost every day successfully since approximately 1976, I have never experienced any form of anxiety or depression afterwards. So, I guess I must be different than others, which seems kind of strange to me.

No, you are doing a different type of meditaion.   I meditate daily and it is not as described as mindfulness.   It seems like the description is designed to bring you more into the world, not designed to balance and accept you are more than what you experience in the world.  That is my take on it and I may be wrong.

[Grim Reaper 6]

4 hours ago, Megaro said:

The splash headline of the article is a bit at odds with the results of the study.

Keep on meditating !

Very much so to the point where it is ridiculous, obviously whoever wrote the article doesn't meditate.

Great post!

[Grim Reaper 6]

3 hours ago, Desertrat56 said:

No, you are doing a different type of meditaion.   I meditate daily and it is not as described as mindfulness.   It seems like the description is designed to bring you more into the world, not designed to balance and accept you are more than what you experience in the world.  That is my take on it and I may be wrong.

I use both Korean Buddhist meditation techniques combined with transcendental meditation. I started using the Transcendental meditation technique in the 1970s and I began to add Buddhist meditation techniques approximately 20 years ago.

What meditation technique do you use??

[josellama2000]

the results of meditation depends on gender.
It will have the wife shut, and the husband will absolutely enjoy the peace. However, if she meditates for too long, her head will blow up.

If the husband meditates, the wife will get crazy from the unresponsive husband.

[XenoFish]

Meditation is a waste of time.

[Piney]

26 minutes ago, XenoFish said:

Meditation is a waste of time.

I think if it's applied with a positive activity it's not. I don't meditate per se but go into my "zone" with my swords or woodwork.  

[XenoFish]

14 minutes ago, Piney said:

I think if it's applied with a positive activity it's not. I don't meditate per se but go into my "zone" with my swords or woodwork.  

I don't consider that meditation. It's more like focused actions. If I wanted to be still and listen to my breathing, I'd just go to bed. 

[Piney]

1 minute ago, XenoFish said:

I don't consider that meditation. It's more like focused actions. If I wanted to be still and listen to my breathing, I'd just go to bed. 

But it's still considered a form of meditation in Zen and the only one used by Sohei. Sitting and meditating before a fight is ridiculous and a "sport" martial artist practice that doesn't even make sense.

[E44]

When you meditate you must protect yourself in a white or violet light, this will prevent negative entities from a attaching to you and causing detrimental effects to your mental state.

[+joc]

36 minutes ago, Eil44 said:

When you meditate you must protect yourself in a white or violet light, this will prevent negative entities from a attaching to you and causing detrimental effects to your mental state.

The only negative entity is your own self. Good luck hiding in the violet light from that!

[+joc]

4 hours ago, XenoFish said:

Meditation is a waste of time.

I used to meditate alot.  But I also use to believe things.  Like, the Universe is pure energy and we are part of that pure energy, if you flow with the energy you will be rewarded by the energy and if you swim against the flow of the universe then you will reap what you sow.  Meditation just took way too much time.  And I usually did just wind up falling asleep. So yeah, doing things...not purposefully 'not thinking' about things.  Things get done when you think about something that needs to be done and then you get up and do it while  you are thinking about doing it.  I think meditating is like making lists of things that need to be done, but never quite getting around  to doing them.

[Ajay0]

Certain meditation techniques and even breathing exercises like Pranayama can be dangerous if they are not done properly as per the prescribed technique, and under the supervision of a trained and experienced teacher. 

Diet also plays a role. Practicing meditation while consuming alcohol and drugs can also create deluded states.

It is also important to have a proper ecosystem of support groups , as well as access to research literature on meditation that can depict such issues in the past and solutions formulated for them.

Some enlightened sages have also prescribed a combination of meditation and therapy for certain people as being more effective rather than just meditation or therapy alone. So there is room for creativity and experimentation in this regard to figure out more effective solutions.

[Chaldon]

Meditation without deep work on transforming one's own understanding of the world, understanding of its complete "emptiness" (i.e. lack of substantial meaning), learning to trust the flow of life as it is (God or Dao) in any circumstances - it can indeed be very harmful. Getting rid of delusions leaves you with no support at all, face to face with reality as it is, and if you have no understanding of the world in whole, no confidence in its essential integrity, you will certainly feel terror.

[Montello]

yes

[+joc]

4 hours ago, Ajay0 said:

Certain meditation techniques and even breathing exercises like Pranayama can be dangerous if they are not done properly as per the prescribed technique, and under the supervision of a trained and experienced teacher. 

And so...then, one must pay the trained and experienced teacher...

...I think it is dangerous to think that 'enlightenment' is a legitimate thing to pursue.  Pouring money and effort into supporting a belief is in itself dangerous.

The Second Axiom of Dan says:

You cannot buy what they are not selling.

Since belief is essentially a state of 'not knowing',  then one cannot buy what one cannot know.  The purveyors of Enlightenment profess to be selling Wisdom.  Wisdom cannot be bought. So, they are not really selling Wisdom.  They are selling Beliefs.

Selling beliefs is essentially selling what one does not really know.    And buying what one does not really know is dangerous.

 

 

[Ajay0]

27 minutes ago, joc said:

And so...then, one must pay the trained and experienced teacher...

See, engineers and technicians creating and maintaining an aircraft carrier or F-35 or nuclear submarine with their cargos of death meant for destruction are paid handsomely. 

So why should anyone begrudge a trained and experienced teacher in meditation who is doing a worthwhile service to society by teaching and guiding a person in meditation, and which has excellent benefits in general as per scientific research !

Since it is the affluent who are often seen as role models in society, I would say it is necessary for meditation teachers to be affluent.

I myself was taught meditation by an enlightened sage who never charged me, but I did feel that it was not correct to exploit his goodness of heart and that labor of any sort should be paid for , and tried to compensate him back later on .

 

[XenoFish]

24 minutes ago, Ajay0 said:

See, engineers and technicians creating and maintaining an aircraft carrier or F-35 or nuclear submarine with their cargos of death meant for destruction are paid handsomely. 

So why should anyone begrudge a trained and experienced teacher in meditation who is doing a worthwhile service to society by teaching and guiding a person in meditation, and which has excellent benefits in general as per scientific research !

Since it is the affluent who are often seen as role models in society, I would say it is necessary for meditation teachers to be affluent.

I myself was taught meditation by an enlightened sage who never charged me, but I did feel that it was not correct to exploit his goodness of heart and that labor of any sort should be paid for , and tried to compensate him back later on .

 

Meditation is a waste of time. 

[+Sherapy]

On 7/22/2024 at 3:29 AM, Piney said:

@Sherapy This is your expertise. 

Unguided meditation can bring up strong emotions and thoughts that might be overwhelming for someone who is already struggling with depression or untreated mental illness. In these situations seeking guidance before practicing meditation is not the worst idea to ensure they have the necessary support in place. Professional supervision can help tailor the meditation practice to their specific needs and circumstances, making it a safe and beneficial experience.

 

For ex: any form of exercise can be considered and used as moving meditation because it focuses on your movements, breathing, and the present moment, promoting mindfulness and relaxation and endorphin release the feel good hormones. I hike every morning before work to put me in a good place before I go to work as a caregiver. For me: it helps because I need to be calm, focused and clear headed for my patient's and families. 

[+Hammerclaw]

53 minutes ago, XenoFish said:

Meditation is a waste of time. 

So, apparently, is tact and empathy...