I had no idea this could happen - to people with and without histories of mental illness. Is it because meditation forces to the surface what could otherwise brood beneath and never see the light of day? I can't imagine there's something inherently dangerous in "taking time out to observe your thought patterns and breathe in a conscious manner," or that this would CAUSE psychosis.
My brother just finished a 10 day silent retreat.
This is dark and beautiful: "Psychosis is, I suspect, a little like falling in or out of love: something on the cusp of the personal and the universal that each of us experiences differently."
And this must be a nod to DFW's famous line, "This is water."
"A fish in water doesn’t really know it’s in water."
Very informative article. I was not aware of the possible harmful affects of some types of meditation retreats on individuals who have underlying mental issues. This needs more exposure so that those affected don’t have to search for answers and treatment the way this author did. What a nightmare!
it's a dark, deep and scary universe inside and out. I feel for all those brave enough to choose the path of silence, scarcity and deprivation and I can empathize with the pain of the exploration. Let's be there for each other in all directions whether toward the light or spiraling the depth of our shadow. Community, acceptance and love!
An axiom in the yoga world is that it “will ruin your life.” And if it doesn’t, you’re doing something wrong. How can you keep going back to your stupid job when you know that you’re on fire, literally and metaphorically, 98 degrees of burning consciousness, a flame that will be snuffed out. Soon. We’re all going to die.
After the deep realities, there’s no going back. That’s why
The
People
For
Me
Are
The
Mad
Ones
makes so much sense. Because the people who dig deep, whatever that might mean, have nothing to learn from those who won’t even scratch the surface.
I had no idea this could happen - to people with and without histories of mental illness. Is it because meditation forces to the surface what could otherwise brood beneath and never see the light of day? I can't imagine there's something inherently dangerous in "taking time out to observe your thought patterns and breathe in a conscious manner," or that this would CAUSE psychosis. My brother just finished a 10 day silent retreat. This is dark and beautiful: "Psychosis is, I suspect, a little like falling in or out of love: something on the cusp of the personal and the universal that each of us experiences differently." And this must be a nod to DFW's famous line, "This is water."
Very informative article. I was not aware of the possible harmful affects of some types of meditation retreats on individuals who have underlying mental issues. This needs more exposure so that those affected don’t have to search for answers and treatment the way this author did. What a nightmare!
it's a dark, deep and scary universe inside and out. I feel for all those brave enough to choose the path of silence, scarcity and deprivation and I can empathize with the pain of the exploration. Let's be there for each other in all directions whether toward the light or spiraling the depth of our shadow. Community, acceptance and love!
An axiom in the yoga world is that it “will ruin your life.” And if it doesn’t, you’re doing something wrong. How can you keep going back to your stupid job when you know that you’re on fire, literally and metaphorically, 98 degrees of burning consciousness, a flame that will be snuffed out. Soon. We’re all going to die.
After the deep realities, there’s no going back. That’s why
The People For Me Are The Mad Ones
makes so much sense. Because the people who dig deep, whatever that might mean, have nothing to learn from those who won’t even scratch the surface.