Practices such as yoga, mindfulness, meditation, and breathing exercises are soaring in popularity because of their potential health benefits. These practices often have positive and sometimes transformative effects, but they can also induce changes in consciousness.
A recent study by a team at Massachusetts General Hospital (part of Massachusetts General Brigham Health System) reveals just how common these degenerative conditions are.
The survey results were published in a magazine Mindfulnessit turns out that such experiences are more common than previously thought.
Meditation: a common but complex experience
Matthew D. Sachet, Ph.D., director of the Meditation Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, led the study.
“We predicted that altered consciousness and its effects might become common as more people engage in mindfulness, meditation, and other contemplative practices. Our international research shows that these experiences are widely available. We have confirmed that this is the case,” Thatchet said.
The study surveyed 3,135 adults in the United States and United Kingdom. Alarmingly, 45% reported experiencing a non-pharmacologically induced altered state of consciousness at least once in their life.
This is much higher than the estimated 5% (US) to 15% (UK) of people who have practiced mindfulness.
Different effects of altered states in meditation
Participants reported a range of experiences, including:
- Derealization (feeling disconnected from the environment)
- Unifying experience (feeling of oneness or “oneness”)
- thrill of ecstasy
- Clear Recognition
- Change in perceived size
- body temperature or electricity
- out-of-body experience
- non-physical light perception
“When a condition changes, it is almost always followed by a positive, sometimes transformative, effect on well-being. However, negative effects have also been reported, with a small number of people experiencing great suffering.” he said.
The need for better support
Of those who experienced distress, 13% reported moderate or higher distress, and 1.1% reported life-threatening distress. Amazingly, 63% of these people did not seek help.
“Our research shows that altered states of consciousness are common variants of normal human experience, rather than being highly unusual or unusual,” Sachet said.
“However, people who experience negative outcomes often do not seek help, and clinicians are ill-prepared to support these experiences. “This represents a public health problem because we have a hard time integrating it into the concept,” he continued.
Meditation state research and care
This study highlights the need for further research to identify individual characteristics associated with the experience of altered states and the suffering that may follow.
“We should not dismiss meditation and other practices as inherently dangerous. Rather, we should seek to understand meditators more deeply and help them realize the full potential of these practices.” “We need to do that,” Sachet stressed.
As with psychotherapy, pharmacology, and other therapeutic tools, it is important to effectively implement these powerful practices and support people in engaging with them.
Sachet also points out that ancient meditation manuals from wisdom traditions can help categorize and manage altered states, saying, “These manuals can help you better manage difficult altered states. “It could provide guidance on how to manage it.” Clearly further research is needed to explore this possibility. ”
Clinical education and meditation guidance
Dr. Sachet called for the development of clinical curricula on altered states of consciousness to improve clinician competency.
“Those who teach meditation must ensure that participants are aware of the potential risks. Safety measures ensure that these promising and powerful practices are taught and experienced safely. “This is guaranteed,” he concluded.
This study highlights the complex nature and importance of altered states of consciousness experienced during meditation and similar practices. These conditions can have a significant impact on individuals and often result in significant positive changes to their well-being.
However, for some people, it can also cause negative experiences, ranging from mild discomfort to considerable pain. This finding highlights the need for a balanced approach to these practices. It is essential to recognize and mitigate the associated risks while leveraging the potential benefits.
This research calls for better support systems and education for both practitioners and clinicians. A better understanding of these altered conditions will allow health care providers to provide appropriate guidance and support to those experiencing difficulties.
This study advocates for the development of clinical curricula and safeguards when teaching meditation to ensure that these powerful practices are approached with the care and understanding necessary to maximize their benefits and minimize harms.
The entire study was published in the journal Mindfulness.
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