Skip to content
AlternativeMed
Meditation cushion and folded blanket beside a sunlit window with a green houseplant

THERAPIES & TRADITIONS · SAFETY

Meditation Safety Quick Reference

A one-page summary of meditation and mindfulness safety: urgent help first, what studies found about harm, who should check with a clinician, stop signs and links to the full pages.

Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.

Back to Meditation and Mindfulness

Urgent help first. If you or someone else is in danger or having thoughts of suicide, get help now. In the US, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org, for free, confidential support at any hour. [1] [2] In life-threatening situations, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. [2] If you are outside the US, contact your local emergency number or health service.

This page is general information. It is not a reason to stop any medicine or therapy.

Quick answer
  • Meditation and mindfulness are usually considered to have few risks, but few studies have looked at harm, so safety cannot be stated with certainty. [3]
  • Some people have distressing experiences, and these can happen to people with no earlier mental health problems. [4]
  • Mindfulness is not right for everyone, and some people find it makes them feel worse. [5]
  • Do not use meditation to replace conventional care or to delay seeing a health care provider about a medical problem. [3]

What studies found about harm

4 items reportedMost serious first. The colour shows how severe each report was.

  1. 2020 systematic review, 83 studies, 6,703 participants

    Unclear

    Adverse events in 8.3% overall; 3.7% in experimental studies and 33.2% in observational studies. Anxiety, depression and cognitive anomalies were most common. [4]

    Rates varied widely between study types, so no single figure is reliable

  2. NCCIH summary of the same review

    Unclear

    About 8 percent had a negative effect, similar to the rate reported for psychological therapies. [3]

    Secondary summary

  3. Analysis of an MBSR clinic, 2,155 community participants plus three trials

    Unclear

    No evidence that MBSR led to higher rates of harm than a waitlist control. [6]

    Compares with no treatment; a small share of people still had harm

  4. Study of Western Buddhist meditators

    Unclear

    59 meditation-related experiences in 7 domains, from minimal and transient to severe and enduring. [7]

    Not a rate; shows the range

Meditation trials usually cannot hide who is meditating, and many measure harm poorly. Overall label: insufficient evidence for a precise risk figure. Proper evidence not found for a trial that tracked harm in people practicing on their own outside programs.

Who should check with a clinician first

This is general guidance based on the symptoms the NHS describes, not a rule or a diagnosis. Ask a doctor or your mental health team before starting a regular practice or any intensive course if you have:

  • a history of psychosis, such as hearing or seeing things others do not, or losing some contact with reality [8]
  • bipolar disorder or periods of mania, including very high mood, restlessness or needing little sleep [9]
  • post-traumatic stress, including feeling disconnected from yourself (dissociation) or on constant alert (hypervigilance) [10]
  • panic attacks, which can include feeling not connected to your body [11]
  • intense or highly distressing thoughts, or difficulty focusing on the body: NICE notes group mindfulness courses may be difficult in these situations [12]

Full pages: Who Should Check With a Clinician, Meditation, Psychosis and Mania, Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness and Panic, Anxiety, Depersonalization and Dissociation.

Warning signs to pause

Pause the practice and get advice if you notice:

  • panic, a fear of dying or a feeling of dread [11]
  • feeling cut off from yourself or the world [10]
  • trauma memories or strong distress that do not settle
  • sleeping very little yet feeling full of energy [9]
  • hearing or seeing things others do not, or new strong beliefs others do not share [8]

The NHS notes that most panic attacks last between 5 and 20 minutes, and that although frightening, they are not dangerous. [11] Anything else on this list, or any distress that lasts or worsens, is a reason to speak to a doctor. The NHS says to see a doctor immediately for psychosis symptoms. [8] See When to Stop or Pause Meditating.

Help for meditation-related distress

Cheetah House provides evidence-based information and support to people who have experienced negative effects from meditation. [13] It is one resource, not a recommendation of a provider, and it does not replace emergency or medical care.

Other safety areas

Frequently asked questions

Is meditation dangerous?

It is usually considered to have few risks, but harm is not rare in studies: a 2020 review found adverse events in 8.3 percent of participants overall. [3] [4]

Can I do meditation if I have anxiety or trauma?

Many people do, but the NHS notes that mindfulness can make some people feel worse, and NICE notes group courses can be difficult for people with intensely distressing thoughts. [5] [12] Talk to your doctor or therapist first, and see Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness.

What should I do if I feel panicky while meditating?

Stop the practice. The NHS says panic attacks are frightening but not dangerous, and most last 5 to 20 minutes. [11] If panic keeps happening or you fear for your safety, get medical help.

Who do I call in a crisis in the US?

Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for crisis support, and call 911 in life-threatening situations. [1] [2]

Can meditation replace my medicine or therapy?

No. NCCIH advises against using it to replace conventional care. [3] Do not stop a medicine or therapy without talking to the clinician who prescribed it.

References
  1. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 988lifeline.org. Read 2026-10-22.
  2. National Institute of Mental Health. Help for Mental Illnesses. Read 2026-10-22.
  3. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Meditation and Mindfulness: Effectiveness and Safety. Last updated June 2022. Read 2026-10-22.
  4. Farias M, et al. Adverse events in meditation practices and meditation-based therapies: a systematic review. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2020. Read 2026-10-22.
  5. NHS. Mindfulness. Read 2026-10-22.
  6. Hirshberg MJ, et al. Prevalence of harm in mindfulness-based stress reduction. Psychol Med. 2022. Read 2026-10-22.
  7. Lindahl JR, et al. The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists. PLoS One. 2017. Read 2026-10-22.
  8. NHS. Psychosis overview. Read 2026-10-22.
  9. NHS. Bipolar disorder overview. Read 2026-10-22.
  10. NHS. PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Read 2026-10-22.
  11. NHS. Panic disorder. Read 2026-10-22.
  12. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Depression in adults: treatment and management (NG222), recommendations. Read 2026-10-22.
  13. Cheetah House. Help for Meditators in Distress. Read 2026-10-22.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.