Meditation Precautions

& Warnings

Dawn Hill August 2004-2007

While meditation has its powers on many levels one must always remember that as with any practice there can be dangers and drawbacks for certain individuals. Persons who are being treated for or suffer from psychological disorder such as those for who reality-testing function is poor, or anyone who is suffering from paranoia, or who are likely to develop delusions of grandeur ( this can be caused by the altered states of consciousness that are used in meditation). It should be noted that people with overwhelming anxiety should probably avoid insight meditations in which the anxiety level can reach intolerable proportions. Psychotic episodes can also be precipitated in certain individuals when doing long periods of meditative practice. Examples of this type of practice include contemplative meditation.

Does this mean that persons with any psychological disorder should not meditate? Not at all! What it means is that those with these type of disorders should merely seek the advice of their medical practitioner before embarking into the unknown.