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Is there too casual an approach to mindfulness?

  • 16-06-2016 11:02pm
    #1
    superglue
    Closed Accounts Posts: 163 ✭✭


    It strikes me that mindfulness seems to be everywhere. From employee stress management leaflets, to student assistance courses, to questionable advertisements for "gnostic psychology and mindfulness" seminars, it would appear to me that mindfulness is very popular right now, and has been for quite some time.

    What I also notice is that it is often billed as a harmless, one size fits all therapy, and many can't see any harm in just giving it a go. While the positive effects of mindfulness have been well documented, articles such as this highlight the potential adverse effects for some individuals. What I wonder is: are we approaching mindfulness too casually? I'd love to hear some of your opinions on this.


Comments

  • #2
    dar100
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,735 ✭✭✭dar100


    I see mindful based approaches as a preventative tool, as opposed to a therapeutic intervention aimed at distressed individuals


  • #3
    JuliusCaesar
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,885 ✭✭✭JuliusCaesar


    As far as I know the only proven effectiveness of mindfulness is in the prevention of relapse in depression. (Can dig up the studies if anyone interested.)

    But there are fads, and let's face it, journalists and others tend to overstate the case of any treatment. Keep reading the research, everyone! Don't go by what you read in the papers!


  • #4
    superglue
    Closed Accounts Posts: 163 ✭✭superglue


    dar100 wrote: »
    I see mindful based approaches as a preventative tool, as opposed to a therapeutic intervention aimed at distressed individuals

    Yes, and I suppose my issue is with it being pushed as a therapy for distressed individuals by unqualified or unscrupulous practitioners, although that's an issue that affects many areas of therapy and health care (e.g. inappropriately qualified counsellors, physical therapists, chiropractors, nutritionists etc.) All too often I see advertisements boldly claiming that mindfulness "reduces anxiety and depression". Such wording is surely misleading to those who may be in distress.
    JuliusCaesar wrote: »
    As far as I know the only proven effectiveness of mindfulness is in the prevention of relapse in depression. (Can dig up the studies if anyone interested.)

    But there are fads, and let's face it, journalists and others tend to overstate the case of any treatment. Keep reading the research, everyone! Don't go by what you read in the papers!

    Your point probably sums up the point I was trying to get at better than I did. When I refer to "we", I should specify that I refer to society in general and not necessarily posters on this forum. While I'm sure many people on here will research such things, I imagine that most people generally will not.


    Edit...
    Scratch all that. This article encapsulates my argument and includes references to studies on mindfulness and relapse into depression that JuliusCaesar alluded to.

    https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-28/march-2015/new-voices-are-we-mindful-how-we-talk-about-mindfulness


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