Meditation is a fascinating and controversial topic that deserves to be explored. For centuries, scientists have been extolling 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 address them. Not because we believe it is dangerous, but because 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. And 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 is increased concentration and lower blood pressure and better regulation of insulin. Anyone who’s in the creative arts or needs to have optimal creativity will likely find some benefit to meditation, as a grind 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 it is 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 prove to 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.
Another problem that 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. And the reason is, 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 of the 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. And 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 one day 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 by how easily his likes changed. Literally overnight.
At first, you may think that you’re just an effective at taming your thoughts, but in time you may start to realize that those nagging thoughts that you have in your mind 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, though without a doubt, the fact that you are mindful of each and everything will tell your brain to continue the habit. So you may be innocently riding the train and thinking about the report do you have to complete for your job when, suddenly, you begin to think of your fear of flying. Things I Eddie can actually turn physical and you can start sweating and feeling dizzy.
As a meditator, you’re allowing your mind to transport itself to a realm that is, quite frankly the supernatural. As a consequence of you being still and quiet, you’re allowing your spirit to refresh be receptive to any message. If you’re constantly feeding a certain type of message, then the brain will except that as reality. That is why many meditators experience an increase in intelligence and heightened awareness. It is because, in the state of calmness and quiet, their mind will believe anything that it is fed.
Those who are on the fence re: meditation as an option to improve creativity and intelligence, should at least learn of any possible negative consequences. Our goal is to enhance your life and to show you ways that you can improve it, and we certainly would not want you to stop some thing that you love. Having said that, it is important to mention that the negative consequences mentioned above are quite serious and can be long-term if you don’t have a therapist to work with.
So what are some other alternatives to meditation? They are number of exercises that can help you to improve cardiovascular health, the most famous of which is aerobic. If you do decide to pursue meditation, they at least know the negative consequences. There are those who 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 exercises component to meditation.
If you’re the kind of person who would like to use meditation in order to deal with negative thoughts, then perhaps you could consider pursuing another hobby. There are a number of interest that you can pursue that doesn’t involve you concentrating on your thoughts constantly in one sitting. Anything that can involve nature—walking through a forest, hiking, or camping—can be of benefit to your heart and soul, without the negative consequences.
It is important to mention that we are not knocking meditation entirely, and a great majority do reap benefits, but I think it is we think it is worthwhile to note that there is a large group of people who don’t receive the benefits, and because they do suffer negative psychological consequences, it’s important we 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 that he would be involved in a plane accident. Statistically, one’s chances of dying in an airplane are astronomical. However, because he meditated so much and because each session mini sessions involve him concentrating on his fear of flying, the result was he stopped loving something that for many years was dear to him.
If you’re someone who has meditated in the past and is now experiencing negative consequences, then we encourage you to seek out professional help. A psychiatrist or psychologist can help you sort out whatever issues existed prior to your meditation, in addition to helping you deal with whatever anxieties came up 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 is why we created this post, to help you decide. Ultimately, the decision about whether to practice meditation or not 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 concerning 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 eye health or any medical concerns. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor or another qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition.