Mindfulness, Event, Meditation, Research
BDG: Metta's Gardening Leave
Cheetah House: Does mindfulness suit all kinds of minds?
Psyche: In therapy or meditation, is it normal to feel worse at first?
The Guardian: Dining across the divide: 'She casts meditation as a cult. I don't think retreats mean harm'
BDG: Metta's Gardening Leave
" ... I kept asking myself why information on the adverse effects of meditation was little known or discussed in meditation circles. With each new interview I listened to, it dawned on me that such transparency would probably be bad for the mindfulness "brand." It was oddly comforting to discover that the "fight to the death" manner in which I was interrogated and then abruptly asked to leave the center practically had a playbook. It also gave me new compassion that what had appeared as service-to-self indifference in those around me was possibly due to dissociation or even addiction to meditation.
Dr. Willoughby Britton's name came up again and again in these interviews, as well as that of Cheetah House, the non-profit organization she had founded to support people struggling with the adverse effects of meditation. Far from being anti-meditation, her work and interviews emphasize informed consent, and that the right meditation technique is a tool for the individual rather than a cure-all to be overused and even weaponized. It is a given that any medication can have side effects, yet somehow this is often ignored in the case of meditation. One person's medicine can be another's poison. These ancient practices were not designed with the modern-day aim of relaxation in mind.
These findings confirmed and challenged my thinking and understanding of my own meditation practice and experiences, and it was hardly surprising to hear Dr. Britton share some of the vicious backlash that she's endured as a consequence—to the point of building herself an off-grid cabin in the woods of Vermont to retreat to as needed.
The biggest "aha!" was hearing Dr. Britton liken choosing a meditation practice to choosing a life partner, and the importance of being aware that you both will change with time. Many people that Cheetah House supports had entered a meditation tradition for specific reasons, only to find that these traditions had slowly morphed over time to fit the agenda of a teacher, center, or sangha. Anyone who struggled with their practice or questioned this drift was either told to meditate more or flat-out dismissed."
Cheetah House: Does mindfulness suit all kinds of minds?
"An exploration of neurodiversity and the evidence on mindfulness for autistic adults.
Speaker Bio: Dr. Kelly Birtwell is a counsellor and mindfulness teacher, and currently works as a Research Fellow in the Centre for Primary Care & Health Services Research at the University of Manchester, UK. Her research focuses on two main areas: mindfulness for underserved groups, and the health and wellbeing of autistic adults.
Learning objectives:
• Participants will gain a general understanding of neurodiversity, and the evidence on mindfulness-based interventions for autistic adults.
• Participants will acquire principles and concepts that can be applied to their professional practice.
• Participants will gain critical thinking and appraisal skills by learning to assess the strengths and limitations of the research on mindfulness for autistic adults.
Abstract: Neurodiversity refers to the natural variation in the way that human minds work. However, we live in a world that is more often than not designed to suit the average or 'neurotypical' mind. Those of us who diverge from this culturally constructed norm are 'neurodivergent'. This includes people who are dyslexic, ADHD, autistic, and have synaesthesia, among many other types of neurodivergence. Mindfulness is widely used across the general population, yet does it suit those of us with different kinds of minds, and autistic individuals in particular? This talk will explore neurodiversity, the impact of language and terminology on mindfulness course participants, and what it means to be autistic, including masking and the double empathy problem. Dr. Birtwell will present a critical overview of the research on mindfulness for autistic adults, and adaptations that can be made to mindfulness-based interventions to improve their accessibility for autistic individuals."
Psyche: In therapy or meditation, is it normal to feel worse at first?
" ... In a recent analysis of nearly 900 meditators, my colleagues and I found that 58 per cent had experienced an unexpected, negative event that they attributed to the practice. Among the most common of these adverse effects were the recurrence of distressing thoughts or images, anxiety, bodily tension or pressure, exhaustion or fatigue, and feeling socially disconnected. Estimates of adverse effects in psychotherapy are similar in type and occurrence. The recurrence of unpleasant memories is the most common. Sleep problems and feeling more stressed, worried or generally unpleasant are also relatively frequent. Together, these findings underscore that many people experience at least temporary negative effects from undertakings that are fundamentally intended to provide help."
The Guardian: Dining across the divide: 'She casts meditation as a cult. I don't think retreats mean harm'
They bonded over studying languages and becoming teachers. Would they see eye to eye on meditating?
" ... Lizzie [said] I was encouraged to get into meditation at university, which provided mindfulness programmes. Through those, I went on a retreat, which prompted some significant problems. I've had harrowing experiences, with very negative, long-lasting impacts. I'd say they were some of the worst experiences that can be had with meditation. I was involved with it for about four years; it was another two before I felt normal again. A certain percentage of people are wired in a certain way, and will not respond well – how do we safeguard young people from that possibility? Data suggests we should have increased concerns about mindfulness interventions, whether they're with adults or children. Obviously the risks are greater with intensive retreats, but courses are still a cause for concern."
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