Meditation is not good for people who have trauma or anxiety disorders as their symptoms are exacerbated by this practice. Every day, articles surface on its benefits, but for many, as pointed out in this article by The Atlantic , meditation can give rise to anxiety and dissociation, particularly in people who have past trauma.
The article notes:
“Meditation is considered to be safe for healthy people. There have been rare reports that meditation could cause or worsen symptoms in people who have certain psychiatric problems, but this question has not been fully researched.”
Until we have thorough research on the effects of meditation on individuals who have experienced trauma, it simply isn’t safe to explore.
If you are experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or have experienced trauma in your life, consult first with a therapist trained in trauma-related therapies such as EMDR and Brainspotting.
