– 2 days ago
Many self-help gurus say that mindfulness and meditation are great ways to improve your mental and physical health, and they might even help you be more productive.
But have you thought about the potential side effects? Dr. Willoughby Britton, a neuroscientist and professor at Brown University in Rhode Island, says people should look more deeply into these effects.
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Contrary to popular belief, meditation isn’t good for everyone. Some people may experience worsening physical health or psychological disorders after practicing mindfulness.
What are the negative effects of meditation?
Meditation or mindfulness involves becoming more aware of the present and your surroundings, typically by sitting in a quiet place, closing your eyes and paying attention to the details around you.
For example, some gurus may recommend paying attention to your breathing and listening to birds chirping or other sounds around you.
Practitioners often meditate for a few minutes each day, which allows them to enter a more aware “state of mind.” Additionally, mindfulness can help people deal with external stressors, like work, and stay focused on their goals.
Nevertheless, Britton told Verywell Health that some people avoid discussing the negative effects. Here are the negative effects she listed, with additional information from The Times of India:
- Lack of motivation: Because mindfulness involves non-attachment, some people can become so used to it that they may lose interest in work or other parts of their lives.
- anxiety: Because meditation is a time to face your thoughts, it can bring back traumatic memories, leading some people to experience fear and paranoia.
- Signs of dissociation: This psychological phenomenon involves detaching from yourself and the world around you. Although mindfulness can deepen self-understanding and change the way you see yourself, it can also make it harder to form connections with others.
- Sleep problems: Mindfulness increases your attention and makes you more aware of small sounds. Having an expanded sense of the world can feel invigorating. But Britton warns that this can be a problem if you can’t even ignore the ticking of the clock when you’re trying to sleep.
- Physical symptoms: According to the Times of India, meditation can cause symptoms such as pain, pressure, headaches, fatigue and gastrointestinal problems.
- Flashback
- Feeling numb or emotional
- Cognitive issues
- Dental hypersensitivity
Britton reiterates that she wasn’t dismissing the benefits of mindfulness, but she does recommend reaching out to a mental health professional if you experience negative symptoms from meditating.
