Meditation is a fascinating and controversial topic that deserves to be explored. For centuries, scientists have extolled the benefits of meditation, recommending it as a way to banish negative thoughts and find inner calm. Meditation also improves focus and concentration, which many experienced meditators attest to. But there are negative consequences to meditation, and we want to educate people on the potential risks.
There are various types of meditation practices, but the most common involves closing your eyes and focusing on your breath. This practice has proven benefits, such as increased concentration, lower blood pressure, and better insulin regulation. It also helps filter out extraneous noise, which is beneficial for creative people. For some, meditation has helped them achieve their goals and become better at what they do. Nonetheless, it also has negative side effects.
One of the problems with meditation is that it can create depression in those who are inexperienced with the practice. Even after stopping the practice, they may continue to feel this way. Another issue is that meditators may become detached from the world’s problems, unable to relate to other people’s struggles. As a result, their minds may become sensitive to such events, leading to increased anxiety. Heightened awareness is another possible negative consequence of meditation. It may lead to extreme behavior, such as suddenly stopping eating certain foods, and can cause anxiety, dizziness, and sweating.
Meditation allows the mind to refresh and be receptive to any message. It’s vital to be mindful of what type of message you’re exposing yourself to as it can affect your reality. While meditation has proven benefits, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks. There are alternative exercises like aerobics that can improve cardiovascular health, and if you decide to pursue meditation, please seek professional guidance to mitigate any negative consequences. Our goal is to enhance your life, and we want to show you ways to improve it while minimizing any possible harm.
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What Is Mindful Meditation?
There are several types of mindful meditation practices. The most common is when you close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing, noting any sensations throughout the body. In many of these instances, subjects come out feeling a heightened sense of concentration and peace. However, not everyone feels the same.
The benefits of mindful meditation have been proven and well-documented. Among them are increased concentration, lower blood pressure, and better regulation of insulin. Anyone in the creative arts or in need of optimal creativity will likely find some benefit to meditation, as it grounds you in the present moment and allows you to filter out extraneous noise. For some, meditation has allowed them to pursue their life goals and to become better at what they do.
No, it does not come without its negative side effects.
Centuries ago, the monks stated in their manuscripts that meditation, although it has benefits, can create problems for those who are inexperienced.
Some may start feeling depressed as a consequence of their mindfulness. In these instances, even after stopping the practice, they continue to feel that way. So, meditation was not the practice that they thought it was.
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Another problem you may face as a meditator, either in the beginning or even advanced stages of the practice, is that you may be unable to relate to the problems of the world. If you spend too much time thinking only about yourself during meditation, it might make it harder for you to really understand and care about what’s going on with your friends and family. That’s because the heightened state of mindfulness may create a subtle emotional distance. Your friend or relative may be telling you about his or her problems at work, and all of a sudden you’re overcome with sadness or anxiety because you cannot relate to that individual. During your meditation practices, you’re telling your mind to block out as many negative things as possible. Yet, the problem is still there, and when it does occur, either through someone telling you about their problems or even a minor incident during the day, your mind may be sensitive to such events and may not want to block them out. The result is increased anxiety.
Others have reported a heightened sense of awareness, though to the extreme. In one instance, a 35-year-old male suddenly stopped eating pork. Many of you may say, “Well, isn’t that a good thing, that he stopped eating pork?” In terms of health benefits, yes. What we’re trying to emphasize is not the fact that he gave up a bad habit, but how easily his preferences changed—literally overnight.
At first, you may think that you’re just effective at taming your thoughts, but in time you may start to realize that those nagging thoughts actually become worse with mindful meditation. What is the reason for this? Scientists have not studied large groups of people in one setting to determine the exact causes, but without a doubt, the fact that you are mindful of everything tells your brain to continue the habit. You may be innocently riding the train and thinking about the report you have to complete for your job when, suddenly, you begin to think of your fear of flying. Things can actually turn physical, and you may start sweating and feeling dizzy.
As a consequence of being still and quiet, you’re allowing your spirit to be receptive to any message. If you’re constantly feeding a certain type of message, your brain will accept that as reality. That is why many meditators experience an increase in intelligence and heightened awareness. In the state of calmness and quiet, the mind believes anything that it is fed.
Those who are on the fence regarding meditation as an option to improve creativity and intelligence should at least learn about the possible negative consequences. Our goal is to enhance your life and show you ways to improve it, and we certainly would not want you to stop something that you love. That said, it’s important to note that the negative consequences mentioned above are quite serious and can be long-term if you don’t have a therapist to work with.
Alternatives to Meditation
So, what are some alternatives to meditation? There are a number of exercises that can help improve cardiovascular health, the most famous of which is aerobics. If you do decide to pursue meditation, at least know the negative consequences. Some even combine both meditation and exercise, and again, we’re not doctors and we’re not nurses—we’re just folks who want to help you improve your life. Deep breathing seems to be another respectable alternative to meditation. In this practice, you’re simply breathing, leaving out the visualization component of meditation.
If you’re the kind of person who would like to use meditation to deal with negative thoughts, then perhaps you could consider pursuing another hobby. There are a number of interests you can pursue that don’t involve constantly concentrating on your thoughts in one sitting. Anything that involves nature—walking through a forest, hiking, or camping—can benefit your heart and soul, without the negative consequences.
It’s important to mention that we are not entirely against meditation, and the majority of people do reap its benefits. But we think it’s worthwhile to note that a large group of people don’t experience the benefits and suffer negative psychological consequences. Therefore, it’s important to study why.
In another instance, a 54-year-old man who had traveled extensively throughout his life and looked forward to spending time with his family in Hawaii suddenly stopped taking planes for fear of being involved in a plane accident. Statistically, the chances of dying in an airplane are extremely low. However, because he meditated so much and because many sessions involved him concentrating on his fear of flying, the result was that he stopped loving something that had been dear to him for many years.
If you’ve meditated in the past and are now experiencing negative consequences, we encourage you to seek professional help. A psychiatrist or psychologist can help you sort out any issues that existed prior to your meditation, in addition to helping you deal with any anxieties that arose as a consequence of your practice.
We cannot overemphasize the importance of mental health, particularly in these COVID times. If you’re looking for something to improve your life, meditation may or may not be for you. That’s why we created this post—to help you decide. Ultimately, the decision about whether to practice meditation is yours, but it’s helpful to know the pros and cons. We hope you found this post useful, and we welcome any questions or comments you have on the subject.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice. I am not a physician, and the content here is based on research and personal experience. It’s essential to consult with a qualified healthcare professional for personalized guidance on mental health or any medical concerns. Always seek the advice of your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition.
