Meditation and mindfulness are widely acclaimed for their positive contributions to mental health, yet recent studies have unveiled a less spoken-about aspect: their hidden drawbacks.
On February 16, 2025, The Conversation featured an article by Miguel Farias shedding light on the unanticipated risks tied to these well-being practices, suggesting that they may not be as universally benign as widely thought.
The origins of mindfulness can be traced back at least 1,500 years to ancient Asian scriptures, where Buddhist monks reportedly experienced detrimental side effects such as depressive states, heightened anxiety, psychosis, feelings of detachment, and a sense of estrangement from one’s identity. These historical accounts are now supported by modern-day research, including a 2022 survey which found that a noteworthy fraction—more than 10 percent—of 953 American meditation practitioners suffered considerable disruption to their normal life for a duration extending beyond a month due to their practice.
Increased Recognition of Risks Involved
Over the past eight years, scientists have increasingly observed that negative experiences related to meditation are more common than previously thought. An extensive meta-analysis published in 2020, which reviewed forty years of literature, identified depression and anxiety as the most prevalent unwanted effects, while others reported incidents of psychotic episodes and psychological detachment.
Unexpectedly, these negative outcomes are surfacing in individuals with no former mental health conditions, after only moderate practice, and can lead to persistent and troubling symptoms. Cognitive-behavioral therapy pioneer Arnold Lazarus offered an early caution in 1976, suggesting meditation could act as a catalyst for significant psychiatric disturbances.
The mindfulness movement has swelled to form a lucrative industry in the United States, with market valuations reaching $2.2 billion. However, the often overlooked darker aspects of meditation are rarely mentioned by mindfulness training apps, books, or even instructors. Ronald Purser, an academic and authorized Buddhist mentor, leveled criticism at the commercialization of mindfulness in his 2023 release “McMindfulness,” coining it a version of “capitalist spirituality.”
The portrayal by the press often glosses over the multifaceted effects of mindfulness, favoring a predominantly glowing narrative. In contrast, the “Buddha Pill” book by Farias, which devoted attention to the negative consequences of meditation, gained significant attention in 2015. However, a considerable study funded by the Wellcome Trust that found mindfulness did not significantly enhance mental health among children, and might even be detrimental, did not receive adequate attention from media outlets in 2022.
Considerations of Responsibility and the Road Ahead
The ethical question of advocating mindfulness without simultaneous disclosure of its possible downsides remains a contentious issue. Many instructors, convinced of the intrinsic virtues of meditation, may downplay or even ignore the complaints of those who suffer from its less favorable effects.
The exploration on how to practice meditation safely is still developing, yet there are now some supports such as websites by individuals who’ve encountered negative side effects and dedicated academic handbook sections. In the United States, there’s a clinical service run by a mindfulness researcher, which attends to those facing acute or long-term complications due to their mindfulness practice.
As the incorporation of mindfulness into therapeutic and well-being regimens grows, experts like Farias are championing a more nuanced and informed public discourse about its downsides. This calls for a more balanced approach to adopting these centuries-old practices.
