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Some people react poorly to meditation -- even having hallucinations. See this story for more examples:

http://www.sfweekly.com/2002-08-28/news/bad-vibes/

So sure, try it, but if it doesn't feel right, don't force it.




That article is shocking, in the sense that most of the meditation teachers are unaware of the bad side effects. Basic relaxation techniques are mostly harmless, but "serious" meditation very often leads to profound challenges to one's sense of self and perception of the world. In the religious traditions that cultivate it, that is in fact the point, and there are many stages that are highly challenging and unpleasant.


If you're forcing anything in meditation, you're doing it wrong.

And of course some people will 'react poorly'. For most people it's the first time in their lives they've actually sat down and looked at themselves. This can be shocking.

Ignoring the problem doesn't make it go away though. That's just 'treating' the symptoms and ignoring the causes, just like we do with modern medicine.


I can't tell if you read the article -- but anxiety attacks, hallucinations, and seizures are reported in some percentage of people who engage in meditation.

There are an amazing variety of human brains, and if you accept the results that meditation causes measurable physical changes in brain structure, you should also be open to the idea that for some brains, those changes might interact badly with other preexisting (and quite possibly inherent) brain tendencies.

People should know that if they have bad reactions, it's not necessarily a matter of 'doing it wrong', or just fighting to get over an initial challenging hump. Stopping might be the right thing for their brain health.


> just like we do with modern medicine.

I think you mean, "just like we do when we misuse modern medicine."


Psychologists at Virginia Commonwealth University monitored 30 chronically anxious people during guided meditation. Seventeen percent indicated that their anxiety got worse.

17% of 30 = 5.1 people. Why not just say "five out of thirty indicated ..."?




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