Practicing Mindfulness Could Cause Problems For Ptsd Sufferers

[Queen Boudica]

Found this article interesting. I know I have seen some on here write about meditation causing problems. This article talks about potential problems of mindfulness for some mental health conditions including PTSD where it could cause re-experiencing traumatic memories.

Personally I did find I was ending up more depressed when I tried it. Just got me focussing on bad memories

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/jan/23/is-mindfulness-making-us-ill?CMP=twt_gu

 

[intothelight]

Good article and I too find "sitting with" the negatives stressful and many times I take the opportunity to refute them. Still think that developing the cognitive behavioral skills was the best thing thing that I learned in the long run.

 

[The Albatross]

Glad for the article, thanks for putting it up. Alex/Icon Nikon recently suggested that the difficulty I have with the "self compassion" aspect of mindfulness is because of the co-occurring behavior of substance abuse in my history (alcohol). I actually do fairly close to normal on "mindfulness" but on the more meditative aspects and self compassion pretty much fail. It seems to stir up stuff which can cause a lapse or relapse with the drinking. So I've been thinking this a good deal more. Not very much on the net about this. So since the substance abuse issue is a real risk for me, pretty much gave up the self compassion/mindfulness challenges at this time. At least until more solid info is forth coming.

 

[GG2489]

Thank god for this site. Sometimes I feel like I am going mad. I for a long time have struggled with any kind of meditation during therapy or other wise. I really wish I could relax and feel calm so have tried many forms of relaxation and meditation but all ended up making me feel worse. I can't even close my eyes in my bath at home or sleep.
I recently tried a self help group and then I was presented with mindfulness it filled me with dread.
I tried to explain that I didn't find it helpful but was told by other members i probably wasn't doing it right. I got quite upset and angry had a verbal outburst that I feel terrible about and left feeling I wasn't trying hard enough.
Thank you for clarifying things for me. I feel much better for reading this thread.
Thank you.

 

[rightkindofme]

Oh goodness. I've been meditating for a month and my depression and my suicidality are going through the roof.

Interesting! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Queen Boudica]

but was told by other members i probably wasn't doing it right. I got quite upset and angry had a verbal outburst that I feel terrible about and left feeling I wasn't trying hard enough.

I'm sorry that happened to you. I was feeling a failure about it too. I could do it at first but then I started to find that if I tried to go to a serene place I can't, like suddenly my ex appears there, or I start remembering really sad stuff and I end up sobbing and so depressed. I just stopped doing it. I was feeling a failure because I just can't, do something that was supposed to be so simple, but it isn't.

 

[Deleted member 29920]

I haven't tried mindfulness but what I read about made me feel it would not be beneficial for me.

 

[Neverthesame]

My mother has been hugely into this for nearly 20 years. Absolutely swears by it, attributing it to being a large factor in her recovery from cancer.

And, I believe her.

I've tried to get into this for years now, but I can't do it. Sitting in silence is torture for me. I immediately start to think about everything I am trying to avoid. Even when using a guided audio recording, I find it is too repetitive, I just start tuning it out, then my mind goes where I don't want it to. Either way, I end more more wound up then when I started. I had always just assumed I was doing it wrong.

Thanks for posting that article. It's given me something to think about.

 

[Anarchy]

Gannan, (spartan life coach - he has CPTSD) had a videoblog about difficulties meditating when you have PTSD, that he posted a year or so ago.

I think we have to go easy, learn how to ground, learn how to realize that thoughts are not necessarily outside reality, and work carefully from there.

quiet and closed eyes, really lets hyper vigilence run wild.

and I'm just now learning that for people who have really viciously self hating inner critics, the self compassion meditations hurt.

 

[Kailani]

Wow!!! Your post is peeeeerrrrrrrrrfect with peeeeerrrrfect timing!!!! My school is pushing this in my class and all kinds of chakra and quantum leap stuff. I respect everyone has their own beliefs but I don't like being forced to adapt it if that's not what I believe. Thank you, I will have to give them this link; one size doesn't fit all. Variety is the spice of life! Appreciate the warning!!! Don't need more trauma!

 

[shimmerz]

spartan life coach - he has CPTSD)

Love this guys videos.

Mindfulness was impossible for me until I reached a certain 'point' in my recovery that didn't have me freaking out over what I saw/felt while meditating. It was actually dangerous for me.

 

[Anarchy]

S'pose I'd better post a link