Does meditation carry a risk of harmful side effects?

Conclusion Many people around the world find meditation can be helpful. However, as with most things, there can be downsides. Some people – especially if they practice intensive meditation for many hours, such as on a retreat – have challenging or difficult experiences. Some religious teachers within Buddhism say these can be part of the path of the religious experience. However, for people doing meditation hoping to experience health benefits, without a religious context, these experiences can be unexpected and difficult to deal with. There are limitations in this study that mean we shouldn't try to apply it too widely. The people interviewed were quite a select group – all had volunteered to talk about challenging experiences during meditation, the majority were meditation teachers, they were almost all white and highly educated (42% had a master's degree and 25% a doctorate). Their experiences may be different from those of the average person attending a meditation class or using a meditation or mindfulness app on their phone. The serious, long-lasting nature of some of the negative experiences reported, however, are cause for concern. People who experience depression, suicidal feelings or other serious problems after meditation should seek medical help. Links To The Headlines The dangers of meditation: It can actually lead to insomnia, fear and hypersensitivity to light. Daily Mail, May 25 2017 Links To Science Lindahl JR, Fisher NE, Cooper DJ, et al. The varie...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Mental health Lifestyle/exercise Source Type: news