Is mediation helpful or harmful?

[Gem]

Originally Posted by Ivy

When people ask for advice on a spiritual forum, they will get a range of advice based on what those individuals believe will help (and of course there are always a couple that want to force what they imagine to be 'help' onto others )

But as individuals, we all have a responsibility to make our own choices. And if someone has mental health issues and asks for help for those on a spiritual forum, then they may well be advised to go meditate, because most here aren't qualified to actually understand and relate to that persons experience. So that person would be better to seek help for their psychological well being from people that have understanding of psychological issues.

Having said that, there are plenty of ideas aimed at the 'self-help' market that sell promises of peace and happiness, that fail to take into account psychological health issues. So until a person experiences more suitable therapy, it is understandable that these ideas seem to offer a way for them. So what you've raised in this thread is well worth highlighting - not just in this thread, but also when you see someone asking for advice, it may offer an alternative choice to just meditating, if you suggest that they might benefit from therapy also.

There are many forms of therapy and many forms of meditation - and they are not separate practises. I have experienced mindfulness, visualisation, grounding and relaxation meditation, all being used in the therapy room, but not singularly... it is used alongside talking, revisiting past trauma, releasing emotions, movement, art, role play etc. And I believe that this variety of different techniques and exercises enables people to find what works for them.

Not to mention the social and systemic dimensions that affect personal lives.

But everything that can be used beneficially can also be abused, and again, that all comes down to personal responsibility and a person choosing their own path.