Holistic Health
Few know about the dangers of intensive meditation
In rare cases , mindfulness can turn into psychosis , particularly after meditation retreats
In 1976 , Dr Arnold Lazarus , one of the forefathers of cognitive behavioural therapy , first raised concerns about transcendental meditation , a mantra-based practice that was popular at the time .
“ When used indiscriminately ,” he warned , “ the procedure can precipitate serious psychiatric problems such as depression , agitation , and even schizophrenic decompensation .”
Dr Lazarus had by then treated a number of “ agitated , restive ” patients whose symptoms seemed to worsen after meditating .
This may be surprising given the wide-ranging health benefits of meditation , which has been practiced for thousands of years and was originally meant to help deepen understanding of the true meaning of life . These days , it ’ s commonly used for relaxation and stress reduction .
The practice can give a sense of calm , peace , and balance that can benefit both emotional well-being and overall health .
These benefits don ’ t end when a meditation session ends , as studies show it can help carry practitioners more calmly through their days and may help manage certain medical conditions including asthma , cancer , heart disease , and even irritable bowel syndrome .
Nevertheless , 45 years after Dr Lazarus first made his warnings , much has been written about meditationinduced mental health problems , including more than 50 studies that have documented cases of mania , dissociation , and psychosis .
�Meditation is associated with health benefits� however , there are reports that it may trigger or exacerbate psychotic states ,” wrote the authors of a 2019 review of psychotic disorders occurring in association with meditative practice published in the Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine .
The types of meditation described were transcendent , mindfulness , Buddhist meditation like qigong , Zen and Theraveda , and others like Bikram yoga , Pranic healing , and Hindustan-type meditation .
Although they found instances of adverse effects after meditative practice , the researchers struggled to attribute a causal relationship between the two . Often , adverse reactions took place during meditation retreats or sustained and intensive session .
Perhaps the best publicised instance of this is the case of Megan Vogt , a 25-year-old American woman who took her own life weeks after attending a 10- day meditation retreat . Rather than emerging from the course enlightened , she was said to have left it incoherent , suicidal , and in psychosis .
As she jumped from a 35-metre bridge , she falsely believed that she had to die to save the lives of her family and others , according to reports at the time . Occasionally , others who have completed such courses also leave them in various states of psychosis .
“[ This ] highlights the possibility that intense meditation could precipitate psychosis in vulnerable individuals ,” wrote Dr Pratap Sharma , a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences , in a case report , although he stressed that �there are several beneficial effects of meditation in patients with psychosis if practiced with caution ”.
Speaking to Global Health Asia-Pacific , Dr Vince Polito , a research fellow at the ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders in Sydney , concurred , saying :
“ All these things have been reported following meditation experiences . Adverse events most commonly occur in the context of multi-day retreats , rather than workshops , classes , or short individual practice .
“ I think there ’ s very little awareness that these are possible risks . These negative events do not seem to be common , but they can be very distressing when they occur .”
“ These negative events do not seem to be common , but they can be very distressing when they occur .”
18 AUGUST 2021 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com