In the past few decades, many people have talked about how Beneficial Meditation is for our Wellbeing.
Indeed, there is Research that has shown that there are Many Benefits that have been shown to be Great for our Mental Health.
There are, also, many people who have Experienced Positive Benefits from Meditation.
But is "Everything" Positive about Meditation?
Looking into the Scientific Research, it seems things are not quite as "Perfect" as they may sound.
One thing that is often not discussed is "Adverse Events" in Meditation.
In History, Meditation has been utilized to Depersonalize Soldiers, and there are also reports of "Meditation Sickness" from Ancient Traditions.
Then, when you Focus on Research Specifically, several other Adverse Effects have been noted.
Some things include:
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Hospitalization
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Suicidal Ideation, Behavior, and Attempts
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Relaxation-Induced Anxiety
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Psychosis
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Mania Symptoms
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Dissociation or Depersonalization
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Depression
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Psychotic or Delusional Symptoms
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Fear or Terror
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Trauma Re-Experience
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Cognitive Anomalous Experiences (Thought Disorganization, Amnesia, Perceptual Hypersensitivity, and Impaired Memory Reliability)
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Involuntary Bodily Movements and Muscle Contractions
It's quite a list of Problems that can come with something usually considered "Positive".
How common are symptoms like these for Meditation?
Well, it is difficult to say "for sure" as it is estimated that only 8% of US Adults have used Meditation Techniques.
More difficult are two other aspects of this Research.
The first is that there are different types of "Meditation".
Research has not yet identified whether these relate to specific types of Meditations, specific Instructor Levels that could impact Results, and similar potential issues.
The second is that "Adverse Events" Do "Not" Need to be Reported on Research unless they are "Serious".
"Serious" means that it causes death, hospitalization, or suicidality for a median duration of 1 - 3 years.
Due to this, it is "Extremely" likely that Adverse Events are Underreported in the Research.
But, given these, Researchers estimate that anywhere between 5% - 15% of the population may experience Adverse Events from Meditation.
Something else to be wary of is that Previous Mental Health History is "Not" Necessarily a Cause of Adverse Events.
More simply, this means that Meditation can "Cause" Adverse Events, even if you have "Never" had Mental Health Challenges in the Past.
Specifically, in the Case Studies (Smaller Studies usually around a Singular Incident, often more Extreme, but May not Represent the Whole), the Individuals did "Not" Have a Mental Health History prior to their Adverse Events.
It also seems that Adverse Events may become "More" Prevalent the Longer Individuals do Meditation.
Given all this, should we "Avoid" Meditation as a Solution?
Are the Risks "Too Great"?
Well, I'm not sure this is True Either.
I believe there are some Specific Aspects of Meditation we Should Consider as Potential Solutions.
But we have to Approach Meditation Correctly, which consists of a few things.
The First is that we Should "Not" Believe that Meditation is a "Cure All".
Though there are many Potential Positive Benefits, the Reality is that Meditation will "Never" Solve Everything simply because that is True for "All" Potential Solutions.
If you put all your Hope into "Any" Solution believing it will fix "Everything" in your Life, you will "Always" be Disappointed.
This is Especially True in the Long Term.
Another thing to pay attention to is the "Type" of Meditation.
There are "Many" different types and techniques of Meditation, some from Religious Traditions (such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism), and some from Secular Traditions.
These different Types of Meditations have different Focuses and Different Goals.
So, if you are going to Approach Meditation Correctly, you should seek out a Form of Meditation that Matches Your Goals.
If your Goal is to Improve your Focus, there are types of Meditation for that.
If your Goal is to Process Emotions or Events, there are types of Meditations for that as well.
If the Goal and the type of Meditation are not in Sync, it could become a Breeding Ground for Adverse Events.
For instance, if you use a Focus Meditation when your Goal is Processing Emotions or Events, the Meditation may end up simply making you "Focus" on the Emotions and Events instead of Processing them.
This is a potential explanation for some of the Adverse Events that were Experienced, such as Trauma Re-Experience.
With this, it is always good to Practice Meditation with those who are Experienced in the Techniques and Understand both the Positives "And" Potential Negatives.
Many Inexperienced Practitioners, even Good-Hearted Individuals with "Certifications", really only know the Positive Aspects of Meditation.
This could make them Blind to Potential Problems of the Meditation they do.
(PS - This is a Problem in "Most" Industries, not just around Meditation. I've discussed Aspects of this in Previous Articles)
Another Aspect to Pay Attention to is your Total Stressors in your Life.
Most People turn to Meditation when they are in Dis-Stress and Burnout.
But depending on your Stressors, this may be Detrimental.
All Change is a form of Stressor, even things that generally are considered "Positive".
So, if you suddenly decide to Add Meditation to your Life when you are close to, or already in Dis-Stress, it may simply make your Total Stress Worse.
In some cases, Meditation may Help, but in others it may be Extremely Detrimental, simply Depending on your Stressors when you start Meditation.
Understanding where your Stressors are in your Life, and determining if Meditation can aid you with the Specific Forms of Stressors you have, may be the Difference between Meditation Helping or Harming you.
The Final thing to understand is how much Stress Damage you currently have.
All Stressors Cause Damage.
Over time, this Damage will Build Up if it is Not Fixed.
The Truth is that Meditation Can "Not" Fix Stress Damage.
So, if your Stress Damage is Too High, Meditation will Not be Beneficial in Any Way.
This can help Explain why many Long Term Meditation Practitioners began to have Adverse Effects years after beginning their practices.
These Individuals were likely attempting to use Meditation to Solve "All" of their Stressors, but it does Nothing for Stress Damage.
As the Stress Damage built up, the Meditation became Less and Less Effective.
Often, as a "Solution" becomes Less Effective, it begins to cause many Mental Challenges, hence the Adverse Events.
If you have been in Burnout for a Long Time, you should look at Fixing Stress Damage before you consider Meditation.
At the end of the Day, looking at the Research, I do believe that overall Meditation can be Extremely Helpful for People.
However, it absolutely is Not a Cure-All, and if we are unaware of the Potential Adverse Events, we Risk Endangering Ourselves.
When we use Meditation Wisely, and in Cohesion with other Needed Solutions, we will have our Best Chances of having Benefits from Meditation.