🧘♀️ Meditation: Spiritual Salvation or Stress of Perfection?
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Meditation: Spiritual Salvation or Stress of Perfection?
Meditation is everywhere.
From health apps to yoga classes to corporate wellness retreats — we’re told that 10 minutes of stillness a day can change our lives.
And for many, it does.
But there's a growing conversation beneath the surface:
What happens when meditation doesn’t calm you — but makes things worse?
Let’s explore both sides of the mindfulness movement — including the lesser-known challenges that some people face when pursuing stillness.
🙏 The Science-Backed Benefits of Meditation
There’s strong evidence showing that meditation can offer:
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Reduced anxiety and stress
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Improved focus and attention
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Lower blood pressure
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Enhanced emotional regulation
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Increased activity in areas of the brain related to compassion and self-awareness
These effects are particularly well-documented in practices like Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), which has become a clinical standard in the NHS and beyond.
🧨 When Meditation Backfires: A Growing Concern
For some, the experience is different.
A 2017 study published in PLOS ONE found that around 25% of regular meditators reported unexpected negative experiences, such as:
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Dissociation
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Anxiety or panic
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Emotional numbness
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Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks (especially in trauma survivors)
These effects aren't universal — but they're not rare either. And they tend to occur more in unguided or intensive meditation without proper context or support.
🧠 Why Stillness Can Be Challenging
For those with high anxiety, PTSD, or unresolved trauma, sitting in silence can magnify internal distress.
Without tools for emotional regulation, the sudden withdrawal from distraction can overwhelm the nervous system.
And in our productivity-obsessed culture, even meditation becomes another benchmark for self-worth:
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“Why can’t I calm down?”
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“I must be doing this wrong.”
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“Everyone else seems to be floating in bliss...”
This pressure turns a healing tool into a source of frustration or shame.
✅ Alternatives to Traditional Seated Meditation
If seated meditation isn't working for you, there are equally valid ways to achieve similar nervous system benefits:
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Walking meditation: Especially in nature — combines mindfulness with movement
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Breathwork: Controlled breathing to calm the vagus nerve and balance cortisol
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Tai Chi or Qigong: Movement-based mindfulness for those who find stillness difficult
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Creative flow: Painting, writing, gardening — all promote presence and focus
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Grounding techniques: Using the senses to reconnect with the present moment
These practices don’t replace meditation — but they may be more accessible for some individuals.
🧘♂️ Meditation Is a Tool — Not a Universal Solution
Meditation is not inherently good or bad.
It’s a tool — and like any tool, it must be matched to the right person, at the right time, with the right support.
For some, it’s a life-changing practice.
For others, it’s just not the right fit — and that’s OK.
If you’ve struggled with meditation, it doesn’t mean you’re broken.
It might mean you need a gentler entry point to self-regulation — one that honours your nervous system rather than overriding it.
🌿 Natural Calm Support — Without Pressure
Explore our range of supplements designed to support calm, clarity, and balance — whether you meditate or not.