Damage from meditation?

[rdwillia]

Hello!

I got this idea from another post, but thought I should start a new topic. I was wondering if anyone here has ever experienced what they feel are negative side effects from meditation or a certain meditation practice.

I'm primarily interested in this because I seem to have had some sort of short term memory loss. I don't think it's severe, I can still function well. I'm not so entirely concerned that I've even been to a Dr.

I'll preface this by mentioning that meditation has helped me more than I ever would have thought, but mostly since I've become a Buddhist. However, a few years ago, before I truly found Buddhism, I was reading a lot and found some meditations using visualizations and was practicing intently. (stupid! stupid!) That seems to be around the time this started happening. Sometimes I just blank out completely... right in the middle of a conversation, a presentation at work, etc. It's pretty disturbing really. At the time I thought it was just a part of the path but I'm not so sure any more. Sometimes I have a really hard time focusing almost to the point of losing my sense of self. It's actually a nice feeling, but I've never enjoyed or desired being spacey! It's like I got really far and then got stuck somewhere in the middle. Hope that makes since.

Since I've been strictly following my tradition's meditations, it seems to have gotten a bit better, (except for my emptiness meditation, which seeming, logically so seems to worsen the spaciness). I do the meditation well; it's coming out of it for the next few weeks that's the problem. I would be really interested to hear back from anyone else on this topic. Has this ever happened to you? Any advice? I really appreciate it!

Ricky ~

[seattlegal]

Wherever you go, there you are.
Have you spoken to your teachers about this?

[I, Brian]

I have a couple of friends with mild epilepsy which results in "blanking out" but they do not have the dramatic fits.

Obviously, I'm not saying that this is what you have, but I am trying to illustrate that it could be a medical condition of some kind and is worth asking a doctor about your symptoms - this is important, because blanking out can be dangerous where you are in situations requiring your full attention to remain safe, such as driving.

[rdwillia]

Hello! and thank you both for replying.

Originally Posted by seattlegal

Wherever you go, there you are.

Originally Posted by seattlegal

Have you spoken to your teachers about this?

In reply; I haven't actually talked to my teacher about this. She is only here Thursday and Friday nights every other week. When she is here she's often talking with someone else or when we are speaking, the timing doesn't seem right. I suppose I should take her aside on this one though. Thanks for the advice, which probably should have been obvious.

Originally Posted by I, Brian

I have a couple of friends with mild epilepsy which results in "blanking out" but they do not have the dramatic fits.

Obviously, I'm not saying that this is what you have, but I am trying to illustrate that it could be a medical condition of some kind and is worth asking a doctor about your symptoms - this is important, because blanking out can be dangerous where you are in situations requiring your full attention to remain safe, such as driving.

I suppose you're right too. I've known for a while I probably should. For a long time I had the excuse of not having insurance, but I don't have that excuse any more. I tend to try to wait things out first. I must admit you've frightened me a bit as I remembered a while back that I had a similar experience when I was a kid, maybe five. It was my first trip to Disneyland and I had an episode on the Haunted Mansion ride. I was sitting next to my sister and I remember thinking "what am I doing here, who is this person sitting next to me?" I had to look down at my Disney shirt to remember. And doesn’t weird lighting trigger epilepsy sometimes?

That sounds more dramatic than it seemed at the time but that's how it was, very disconcerting. I knew deep down that all was well, but very weird. The closest to a problem I've had driving was on long trips that passed way too fast, like I teleported from point A to point B. Doesn't sound too safe does it?

I've always been paranoid of being too paranoid when it comes to health issues. I don't desire to be a hypochondriac.

OK, this is getting off the Buddhist topic. I think I'll take you both up on your advice. I'd still like to hear from anyone who's had any similar experiences or any other advice.

Thanks again, I really appreciate it.

[I, Brian]

Again, I'm not a doctor so I cannot diagnose you - I'm simply pointing out that there is a possible medical source.

However, it could simply be a normal phenomenon - I'm sure many of us have strange moments - the key concern is to find out if this may be detrimental to your physical health and safety, if possible.

[rdwillia]

Originally Posted by I, Brian

Again, I'm not a doctor so I cannot diagnose you - I'm simply pointing out that there is a possible medical source.

However, it could simply be a normal phenomenon - I'm sure many of us have strange moments - the key concern is to find out if this may be detrimental to your physical health and safety, if possible.

Point taken, thanks again!

~Ricky