Negative effects of meditation

[Cheesus]

I was wondering if anyone here had experienced any negative effects as a result of practicing mindfulness meditation?

[BioSattva]

A colleague calls me 'the mystic' - and I haven't even discussed anything mystical with him (and I don't 'do' mystical or superstitious beliefs in any case) .

[Cheesus]

Haha! Quick, we must alert the Dalai Lama

Good effort, Bio - not quite what I had in mind though

[rara]

Addiction. I have an addictive personality...so whenever I get into something new and I like it, I become obsessed.

After two years of practice, I finally pulled myself out of my own denial. The best thing that has happened so far.

So yes, once a negative...turned out to be a positive though.

[Cheesus]

I'm very similar, Rara. I think I have started to practice too much and have decided to decrease my amount of time and the meditation cushion and not be bothered if I skip a practice or two.

[JonW]

"I was wondering if anyone here had experienced any negative effects as a result of practicing mindfulness meditation?"

Not a single negative comes to mind. It's all been positive.
But I remind myself not to cling to the positivity. The positivity is just there. Like everything else it rises up. It happens.
I'm glad it's there but I'm not about to get stuck on it.

[BioSattva]

Fully Present: The Science, Art, and Practice of Mindfulness (2010), p62:

Unlike self-esteem, which is important in happiness but if too elevated can lead to narcissistic behavior, self-compassion in its extremes appears only to enhance a person’s health and well-being; there is no downside to it."

I guess it's kind of like asking whether there is any darkness in light...? Cheesy, but direct.

Addiction. I have an addictive personality...so whenever I get into something new and I like it, I become obsessed.

After two years of practice, I finally pulled myself out of my own denial. The best thing that has happened so far.

What you are talking about is maybe what some zennists refer to as "the stink of zen". Apparently from Alan Watts' book, The Way of Zen (1957): "In studying or practicing Zen it is of no help to think about Zen. To remain caught up in ideas and words about Zen is, as the old masters say, to 'stink of Zen.'"

[Cheesus]

That is interesting. The reason I asked is because I recently came across these studies:

Adverse effects of meditation were assessed in twenty-seven long term meditators (average 4.27 years) both retrospectively (time one) and prospectively at one month (time two) and six months (time three) following a meditation retreat. At both time one and time three subjects reported significantly more positive effects than negative from meditation. However, of the twenty-seven subjects, seventeen (62.9%) reported at least one adverse effect, and two (7.4%) suffered profound adverse effects. When subjects at time one were divided into three groups based on length of practice (16.7 months; 47.1 months; 105 months) there were no significant differences in adverse effects. How the data should be interpreted, and their implications both for the clinical and psychotherapeutic use of meditation as a relaxation/self-control strategy, and as a technique for facilitating personal and spiritual growth, are discussed. Limitations of the study and suggestions for future research are also offered.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1428622

Not all effects of the practice of meditation are beneficial. Shapiro (1992) found that 62.9% of the subjects reported adverse effects during and after meditation and 7.4% experienced profoundly adverse effects. The length of practice (from 16 to 105 months) did not make any difference to the quality and frequency of adverse effects. These adverse effects were relaxation-induced anxiety and panic; paradoxical increases in tension; less motivation in life; boredom; pain; impaired reality testing; confusion and disorientation; feeling 'spaced out'; depression; increased negativity; being more judgmental; and, ironically, feeling addicted to meditation.

Other adverse effects described (Craven, 1989) are uncomfortable kinaesthetic sensations, mild dissociation, feelings of guilt and, via anxiety-provoking phenomena, psychosis-like symptoms, grandiosity, elation, destructive behaviour and suicidal feelings. Kutz et al. (1985a,b) described feelings of defencelessness, which in turn produce unpleasant affective experiences, such as fear, anger, apprehension and despair. Sobbing and hidden memories and themes from the past, such as incest, rejection, and abandonment appeared in intense, vivid forms and challenged the subject's previously constructed image of their past and themselves. On the other hand, it is not uncommon to encounter a meditator who claims that has found 'the answers' when in fact he has been actively engaged in a subtle manoeuvre of avoiding his basic questions.

http://minet.org/www.trancenet.net/rese ... eniz.shtml

Do you guys have an opinion about that?

[FeeHutch]

This reminds me of something I often see in counselling situations, once we pay attention to our feelings, experiences and where they come from, we sometimes feel worse before we feel better.

I have found accepting aspects of my existence challenging, especially when I have allowed myself to really pay attention and acknowledge them. The body scan initially highlighted the difference in my sensation between my left and right side following the SAH but as mindfulness couples paying attention with compassion this experience was more healing than distressing. Seeing where my thoughts can take me, and how quickly was disconcerting but again this was coupled with reassurance in the 8 week course.

[rara]

Yes, depending on the context and perceptions, I can see how some would call these negatives.

I mean, imagine mindfulness sold this way:
"Come and practice to witness the thrill of all your fears and pains standing there right before you - don't worry though, in the long run it will do you the world of good! Trust us."