A new harm monitoring study investigates the adverse effects of mindfulness-based practices.

Evidence

New Research Focuses on the Harmfulness of Mindfulness (Psychology Today)

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim
• XREF: connects to: Mindlessness leads to panic and detrimental behavior. — Dan Harris, 10 percent Happier, 40; Mindfulness allows for thoughtful responses instead of mindless reactions. — Dan Harris, 10 percent Happier, 1132; Mindfulness allows for nonjudgmental observation of thoughts. — Dan Harris, 10 percent Happier, 513 (+5 more)

Related

• Harmful psychological treatments are damaging and cause worse outcomes than would have occurred without treatment. (similarity 0.86)
• Meditation and mindfulness, widely perceived as stress-reduction techniques, can also have adverse effects. (similarity 0.85)
• At least 25% of regular meditators have experienced adverse effects from mindfulness. (similarity 0.85)
• 58% of 96 participants reported at least one meditation-related adverse effect, ranging from perpetual hypersensitivity to nightmares. (similarity 0.83)
• Recent studies reveal that 25–87% of those who engage in meditation report adverse effects, with 3–37% experiencing functional impairment. (similarity 0.83)
• The most common adverse effects are anxiety and depression, followed by psychotic or delusional symptoms and dissociation. (similarity 0.81)
• Mindfulness allows for thoughtful responses instead of mindless reactions. (similarity 0.81)
• Mindfulness allows for nonjudgmental observation of thoughts. (similarity 0.81)
• Studies have described adverse events such as anxiety, pain, and psychosis associated with mindfulness meditation. (similarity 0.81)
• Mindfulness alters perception of intrusive thoughts. (similarity 0.80)
• Meditation practice in MBPs is associated with transient distress and negative impacts at similar rates to other psychological treatments. (similarity 0.79)
• Mindfulness practice can enhance mental clarity in stressful situations. (similarity 0.79)
• About 30% of meditators experienced challenging or distressing effects, and 9% reported functional impairment. (similarity 0.78)
• Mindfulness creates space to respond rather than react. (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• Repeated meditation transforms intrusive noise into a tool for entering the moment #complicates (0.30) — Pauline Oliveros, Deep Listening, 507