Research Reveals Potential Adverse Effects of Meditation, Challenging Widespread Beliefs
Dr. Willoughby Britton, a former doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at the University of Arizona and a meditation teacher, has dedicated years to researching the potential negative impacts of meditation. Initially aiming to prove meditation's benefits, her 2004 study on sleep found that meditation participants slept more fitfully and had more frequent awakenings than a control group. This unexpected finding led her to question the universally positive portrayal of meditation. Over time, Britton's research, often in collaboration with Jared Lindahl, has uncovered a range of adverse effects, including anxiety, depression, dissociation, and even psychosis, experienced by some meditators. These effects can be severe and lasting, with some individuals reporting impairment for one to three years. Her work challenges the prevailing narrative that meditation is always beneficial and without side effects, highlighting that even short daily practices can lead to issues for some individuals. Britton has since ... 
