Read on Twitter
At the request of @cardiffbites, here's my take on this news
General summary; doesn't surprise me a all, a few people have been voicing concerns about this in recent years
It's not that it *doesn't* or *can't* help, but the limits or side-effects of it are typically ignored
/1 https://twitter.com/newscientist/status/1294560523971956736
General summary; doesn't surprise me a all, a few people have been voicing concerns about this in recent years
It's not that it *doesn't* or *can't* help, but the limits or side-effects of it are typically ignored
/1 https://twitter.com/newscientist/status/1294560523971956736
People have been voicing concern about the down-sides of 'mindfulness' and 'mediation' approaches (and the somewhat zealous championing of them) for years
E.g. @anandamide did a whole guest post about it for my Guardian blog
https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2015/may/21/mindfulness-drug-free-side-effects
/2
E.g. @anandamide did a whole guest post about it for my Guardian blog
https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2015/may/21/mindfulness-drug-free-side-effects
/2
As @anandamide (and many others) flag up, meditation/mindfulness can certainly 'help' with depression. Or, more specifically, the symptoms. But they don't really do much about the root cause, be it biological, social, or whatever. They can't, really
/3
/3
The underlying cause of depression (i.e. what, if anything, is going awry in he brain) is v complex, and uncertain. Neurotransmitter imbalance, neuroplasticity loss, inflammation, stress chemicals, they're all potentially involved
Meditation doesn't do much about any of this
/4
Meditation doesn't do much about any of this
/4
There's also the fact that mindfulness and the like essentially gets you to consciously change the way you think about things, to limit thought patterns that lead to depression/anxiety
Valid in theory, tricky to pull off in practice.
/5
Valid in theory, tricky to pull off in practice.
/5
Mindfulness can (should?) involve focusing on depressive/anxious tendencies, so as to change them
But given how brains works, trying NOT to think of something can make it MORE powerful. Ironic process theory
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironic_process_theory
Ergo, it can make depression 'stronger'
/6
But given how brains works, trying NOT to think of something can make it MORE powerful. Ironic process theory
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironic_process_theory
Ergo, it can make depression 'stronger'
/6
Doesn't apply to everyone, obviously, but via this you hopefully can see mechanisms via which mediation or mindfulness can actually lead to an increase in depressive/anxious tendencies, not a reduction, especially if not 'done right'.
/7
/7
And this is in purely objective terms, where mindfulness/meditation are removed from the socio-cultural context
In reality, they come freighted with a lot of baggage, much of which will hinder how effective they are, or even make them counterproductive
/8
In reality, they come freighted with a lot of baggage, much of which will hinder how effective they are, or even make them counterproductive
/8
For example; many espouse mindfulness as a 'pure' way of dealing with depression or similar, avoiding all those nasty drugs and medications
I'd never say that people with this mindset are actually very judgemental and closed minded
But I've certainly thought it a lot
/9
I'd never say that people with this mindset are actually very judgemental and closed minded
But I've certainly thought it a lot
/9
If you're caught up in this 'mindfulness and meditation are the only good ways to deal with mental health problems' mindset, and it *doesn't* work for you, that can easily lead to worry, concern, self-doubt etc.
I.e. makes depression and anxiety worse
/10
I.e. makes depression and anxiety worse
/10
There's also the way that mindfulness and meditation put the pressure solely on the affected individual. It's all 'on them' to fix their head. They can have some guidance and stuff, but that's about it. So any failure, and therefore blame, is theirs
Again, a lot of pressure
/11
Again, a lot of pressure
/11
Putting all the onus and expectation on someone, as mindfulness arguably does, is stressful enough. When they already have anxiety, depression etc, it can amplify those issues. Feelings of doubt, failure, inadequacy etc are common enough with these issues as it is
/12
/12
This feeds into my recent rant/article about Toxic Positivity, about how people insist you can 'choose your mood'. Ergo, if you're not happy, that's your fault
https://cosmicshambles.com/words/blogs/deanburnett/toxic-positivity
@Sectioned_ and others flagged up that mindfulness/meditaiton has a similar logic to it
/13
https://cosmicshambles.com/words/blogs/deanburnett/toxic-positivity
@Sectioned_ and others flagged up that mindfulness/meditaiton has a similar logic to it
/13
And many have pointed out how 'mindfulness' has been co-opted by corporations and workplaces. They're able to say they 'care' about mental health, while actually saying "You should fix yourself, while we change or pay nothing, and expect the same (or more) work from you"
/14
/14
In summary, mindfulness/meditation:
- Mostly ignore causes of psych problems (internal or external)
- Can amplify issues; not 'risk free' just because not meds
- Afflicted individual has to do all the work
- Have been warped somewhat by modern culture
/15
- Mostly ignore causes of psych problems (internal or external)
- Can amplify issues; not 'risk free' just because not meds
- Afflicted individual has to do all the work
- Have been warped somewhat by modern culture
/15
Overall, mindfulness and meditation can be, and regularly are, v helpful with depression, anxiety etc. But they're far from perfect, and can have negative consequences. Thinking/expecting otherwise because they're not 'medication' is just unhelpful ideological snobbery, IMHO
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