Research Reveals Potential 'Dark Side' and Risks of Meditation, Especially Intensive Retreats
New research, spearheaded by Willoughby Britton, a researcher at Brown University, indicates that meditation, particularly intensive meditation retreats, can have significant negative side effects for some individuals. While meditation is widely promoted for its benefits in reducing anxiety, chronic pain, and depression, Britton's work, initially met with skepticism, highlights adverse reactions such as increased anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, dissociation, and even suicidal ideation. Her findings suggest that approximately 10% of individuals who practice meditation may experience some form of negative side effect. These effects can range from mild, like increased anxiety or changes in motivation, to severe, including psychosis and involuntary physical movements. Britton's personal experience with dissociation after prolonged meditation and observations of psychiatric hospital patients arriving from meditation retreats prompted her to investigate these less-discussed aspects of the practice. Her 2017 p...
