Meditation, Mindfulness, and Trauma

Incorporating Mindfulness Into Healing From Trauma

Mindfulness and meditation have many positive aspects which can improve the relationship with ourselves, others, and the world we live in. We can directly see these positive outcomes by the way people react to us or even how our body responds to the prolonged tranquil feelings we have developed.

But what about the negative aspects of meditation? Are there any?

Believe it or not there are some instances where a meditation practice may be more harmful than beneficial.

Take for instance someone who has experienced a traumatic event and now is dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Let us consider what a traumatic event is. A traumatic event is not necessarily the event a person experiences but how this person views and integrates this experience into their being. 

For example, a traumatic event is not only the soldier who comes home from a war situation and 'has bad dreams', or a child sexual abuse survivor, but it may also include a homicide detective who experiences countless humans who have been murdered a person who was robbed at gunpoint. 

A traumatic event could also be the daily racial profiling that goes on while shopping or driving, economic disparity, any form of government (even in the USA). 

Therefor it is vital that the traumatic event is defined by the individual who experiences a particular event not the specific event.   

Normally, meditation asks the practitioner to be aware of their thoughts, any current physical sensations, and feelings which is beneficial in establishing a connection with your surroundings. However, someone who has experienced a traumatic event may relive the experience as a current happening while in meditation and flooding their senses into a heightened state of stress or danger. 

Such experiences often cause more harm than good and inhibit the letting go that is necessary.

It is a common misconception that the traumatic event must be integrated and that the survivors mind is rejecting this integration. But in the mindfulness perspective it is the opposite. The survivor is actually holding on to the event and not letting go. Accepting the traumatic event as over, in the past and not capable of causing us harm, is the path towards the liberation of the event.

As will all emotions, fear, love, anger, jealously, joy, we recognize their existence as they enter our being, we let them sit for a time, but then let them go. This is the quality of impermanence that nothing is a permanent fixture and will cease to exist. Thoughts included. 

Mindfulness instructors want to help but some may not have the necessary experience in dealing with a practitioner who is a survivor of a traumatic experience. If you are seeking a mindfulness instructor with this expertise, just ask them. If they do not have the experience they will earnestly tell you and assist you in finding a qualified instructor.

Mindfulness meditation truly is for everyone, no matter where you may be. It is a path of warm embrace, compassion, empathy, and lovingkindness.

If you have been the victim of a traumatic event, there are resources out there, with me or your mindfulness instructor being only one of them.

Please feel free to comment below.

Wishing you peace and ease,

Vladimir

Blue Lotus Meditation And Mindfulness Center is a registered 501(c)(3) religious organization.