Meditation and mindfulness, widely perceived as stress-reduction techniques, can also have adverse effects.

Evidence

Meditation And Mindfulness May Lead To Anxiety, Other Adverse Effects In … (The Swaddle)

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim
• XREF: connects to: Mindlessness leads to panic and detrimental behavior. — Dan Harris, 10 percent Happier, 40; Meditation practice in MBPs is associated with transient distress and negative impacts at similar rates to other psychological treatments. — Defining and measuring meditation-related adverse effects in …; Recent studies reveal that 25–87% of those who engage in meditation report adverse effects, with 3–37% experiencing functional impairment. — Adverse effects of meditation and mindfulness in clinical practice (+12 more)

Related

• At least 25% of regular meditators have experienced adverse effects from mindfulness. (similarity 0.92)
• Meditation practice in MBPs is associated with transient distress and negative impacts at similar rates to other psychological treatments. (similarity 0.91)
• Recent studies reveal that 25–87% of those who engage in meditation report adverse effects, with 3–37% experiencing functional impairment. (similarity 0.90)
• 58% of 96 participants reported at least one meditation-related adverse effect, ranging from perpetual hypersensitivity to nightmares. (similarity 0.88)
• Studies have described adverse events such as anxiety, pain, and psychosis associated with mindfulness meditation. (similarity 0.88)
• The most common adverse effects are anxiety and depression, followed by psychotic or delusional symptoms and dissociation. (similarity 0.87)
• A new harm monitoring study investigates the adverse effects of mindfulness-based practices. (similarity 0.85)
• About 30% of meditators experienced challenging or distressing effects, and 9% reported functional impairment. (similarity 0.85)
• Anxiety, traumatic re-experiencing, and emotional sensitivity were the most common MRAE; 10.6% reported some functional impairment. (similarity 0.83)
• Harmful psychological treatments are damaging and cause worse outcomes than would have occurred without treatment. (similarity 0.81)
• Mindfulness practice can enhance mental clarity in stressful situations. (similarity 0.81)
• Mindfulness allows for thoughtful responses instead of mindless reactions. (similarity 0.80)
• Meditation creates a new default mode of mental operation. (similarity 0.79)
• The Varieties of Contemplative Experience study identified more than 50 types of meditation-related challenging experiences across seven domains. (similarity 0.79)
• Mindfulness alters perception of intrusive thoughts. (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• Returning attention to breathing during stress can be empowering #complicates (0.75) — Pauline Oliveros, Deep Listening, 177
• Mindfulness practice can enhance mental clarity in stressful situations. #qualifies (0.50) — Dan Harris, 10 percent Happier, 553