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Meditation has become a popular activity in many countries, where it is generally presented as a positive life habit that can potentially improve mental and physical health. Research conducted in recent years has associated meditation practices with a number of possible benefits, including decreased stress and blood pressure. However, a new study warns that many people report "particularly unpleasant" meditation experiences.
Meditate for health
Meditation has a long history and although it remains a spiritual practice for many, a growing number of people have adopted the regular practice of meditation from the point of view of secular life and health. Different meditation practices exist, but the most common in the Western world is without doubt mindfulness meditation.
The practice of personal meditation is more accessible than ever because of the growing popularity of mobile meditation apps, which allow anyone to participate in meditation sessions with the help of a phone. According to the National Complementary and Integrative Health Center, many studies have shown that meditation can reduce blood pressure, IBS symptoms, insomnia, and depression and anxiety problems.
Study suggests risks
Researchers from University College London have addressed an aspect of meditation that draws less attention: the potential for adverse or unpleasant effects. According to a team study published in PLOS ONEAbout 25% of regular meditators experienced "particularly unpleasant" psychological experiences while meditating.
These unpleasant experiences include "distorted emotions" and fear. The team also found that people who tend to have repetitive negative thoughts, as well as people who practice deconstructive meditation practices such as Vipassana, are more likely to report having an unpleasant experience.
The research involved 1,232 people who had been practicing meditation regularly for at least two months. Among the participants, the study indicates that religious people and women were less likely to report experiencing any of these undesirable experiences. The reasons for these negative experiences, as well as their frequency in the broader meditation community, remain unclear.
The limits of the study
Researchers identified some limitations associated with this study, including a lack of data on whether participants had a pre-existing mental health problem that may have contributed to the effects.
The lead author of the study, Marco Schlosser, also addresses another aspect of these negative experiences, that some of them may be part of the process. "When are unpleasant experiences important elements of meditative development," said Schlosser, "and when are they simply negative effects to avoid?"
Further research on meditation is needed to determine the nature of these negative experiences.
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