Cheetah House

Trauma can profoundly impact the mind-body relationship, frequently leaving lasting imprints on both emotional/cognitive and somatic domains of the sense of self.

How can we work with the traumatized self to restore the sense of self at an emotional/cognitive and somatic level to reunite the brain, mind, and body? This workshop will describe an integrative, neuroscientifically-guided approach to facilitate a mind-body connection that was, or was not ever, there before, thereby laying the foundation for restoring an embodied self capable of feeling fully alive in the aftermath of trauma.
WHERE: Online
WHEN: Friday, September 13th 1:30pm ET
COST: Sliding scale $25 to $50.

Have you dived too far into the sensory world? Join us for our next special lecture.

Dr. Norman Farb will be presenting on “sense foraging” and the balance between thinking and sensing in contemplative practice.

When: Wednesday, July 10th, 12-1:30pm ET

Register: find the link in our bio or visit cheetahhouse.org/events

New documentary out about meditation-related adverse effects

The other effects of meditation - ENGLISH SUBTITLES We know that many people benefit from practising meditation. But that is no the whole story. This documentary explores the other effects of meditation.

Are you a meditation teacher looking to incorporate person-centered approaches? Hear how MBSR teacher Caroline De Vos transitioned from adhering to mindfulness programs dogmatically to embracing a flexible, person-centered trauma informed mindfulness teaching approach.

When: Wednesday, February 28th, 1-2:30 PM ET

Register: https://cheetahhouseconsultations.as.me/schedule.php?appointmentType=57662416

Is Buddhism scientific? Is Buddhism "true?" Does Buddhist meditation reveal "the way things really are"? Is the self an illusion? Explore these questions in Cheetah House's Buddhist Modernism reading group with Dr. Nathan Fisher. 8 weeks starting Tuesday February 20, 2024. Drop ins welcome.

Sign up here: https://cheetahhouseconsultations.as.me/schedule.php?appointmentType=57706632

We meet hundreds of meditators like James. If you or someone you know is grappling with meditation challenges, you're not alone. Please reach out.

All meditators can get help here: https://www.cheetahhouse.org/meditator-consultations-1

Eligible Meditators from or living in AU/NZ: The Contemplative Studies Centre generously covers 80% of the costs for peer support (information and discount applied at checkout)

Meet James (not his real name), a professional in his 30s, who was captivated by the promise of a ‘new operating system for the mind’ offered by meditation. With no existing mental health conditions beyond mild anxiety, James embarked on a journey with both positive and challenging experiences.

James practiced meditation daily and embarked on a two-week self-retreat. However, severe mental health issues arose, and he navigated them alone, unsure where to seek help. Experiencing perception shifts, anxiety, panic attacks, and deep depression, James felt his life spiral out of control.

James felt lucky to discover Cheetah House, supported by the Contemplative Studies Centre subsidy scheme. They offered accurate descriptions, scientific explanations, and effective coping strategies, aiding his recovery. James emphasises the importance of awareness, support, and the need to acknowledge meditation's potential complexities.

James advises others facing similar challenges to reach out to experts like Cheetah House; understanding the situation marks the start of recovery. Mental health is unique, and meditation isn't a universal solution. Awareness of potential warning signs could prevent crises like the one James any others have experienced.

The Contemplative Studies Centre's research highlights the wide-ranging benefits of meditation training, but several studies also show that it doesn't work for everyone, and that many regular meditators report unpleasant experiences linked to their practice that may cause problems in their day-to-day lives. Here's the story of someone for whom meditation didn't work.

➡ If you or someone you know is grappling with meditation challenges, please reach out. James's story and information about the CSC subsidy scheme in partnership with Cheetah House can be found here: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/vix8

Tim Ferriss and Willoughby Britton discuss his harrowing meditation retreat experience and many other topics. Dr. Britton was especially excited to chat with him, as his "hard-charging" approach to self-cultivation is (was) emblematic of many of the young (male) meditators that end up requesting help at Cheetah House. His reflections, words of caution, and reformed approach are part of their collaborative public service announcement. This podcast is also part of our efforts to create a "30 under 30" fund to support young meditators' recovery at Cheetah House. If you like the podcast, please consider making a donation to the 30 under 30 fund: https://www.cheetahhouse.org/donate

The Hidden Risks of Meditation — Dr. Willoughby Britton | The Tim Ferriss Show Brought to you by:Momentous high-quality supplements: https://livemomentous.com/timNordic Naturals Ultimate Omega fish oil (20% off with code TIM): https://w...

Hello everyone! Please see Dr. Britton's exciting announcement! We hope we can count on your support today.

A Message From Dr. Britton Give today: https://donorbox.org/cheetahhouse Your generosity could sponsor a young person's road to recovery. - $10/month gives one person their first…

A Message From Dr. Britton Give today: https://donorbox.org/cheetahhouse Your generosity could sponsor a young person's road to recovery. - $10/month gives one person their first…

Did you know that meditation can result in unwanted side effects if practiced without appropriate caution? In a ground-breaking collaboration, the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences' Contemplative Studies Centre (CSC) at The University of Melbourne have partnered with Cheetah House to introduce a pioneering subsidy program to assist individuals experiencing difficulties in their meditation practice.

Read more: https://lnkd.in/ga2iMeKv

Our wonderful Care Team Member Scott Lippitt is hosting an amazing benefit concert for Cheetah House on December 17 at 1:00pm eastern time. You can register at CheetahHouse.org/community

It takes a rare type of courage to disclose an experience that challenges the salvific meta-narratives of psychedelics and meditation.

https://bulletin.hds.harvard.edu/a-theological-reckoning-with-bad-trips/

A Theological Reckoning with ‘Bad Trips’ Reducing transcendence to its therapeutic potential ignores volumes of wisdom from traditions that emphasize the dangers of nonordinary experience. By Rachael Petersen

Check out Rosalie's story

Cheetah House provides information and support for meditation-related adverse effects

Research-based support. The Cheetah House Care Team is here to help.

Cheetah House updated their info in the about section.

The Cheetah House Care Team is here to help. Sign up for a consultation today.

resources for meditators-in-distress research on adverse effects of meditation, support for meditators-in-distress

Introducing the Cheetah House Care Team. We understand meditation-related difficulties and we are here to help.

The Care Team — Cheetah House Members of the Cheetah House Care Team have extensive experience with meditation-related challenges. Each member has attended over 20 support groups and individual consultations with Dr. Britton and completed a 9-month training that was informed and co-developed by individuals with lived experience....

We support meditators-in-distress
Learn more at https://www.cheetahhouse.org/about-us/

Current evidence does not support the theoretical claim that mindfulness meditation training produces its salutary effects through a global and comprehensive attenuation of all forms of selfhood. Instead, this evidence map demonstrates that increases in certain conceptual self-related processes and decreases in others show promise as mediators of outcomes in mindfulness-based interventions."
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.730972/full

From Self-Esteem to Selflessness: An Evidence (Gap) Map of Self-Related Processes as Mechanisms of Mindfulness-Based Interventions Self-related processes (SRPs) have been theorized as key mechanisms of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), but the evidence supporting these theories is currently unclear. This evidence map introduces a comprehensive framework for different types of SRPs, and how they are theorized to function a...

https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/meditation-apps-harmful/

Are Meditation Apps Harmful? A recent study indicates that people who started meditating using an app may be more likely to develop what's known as "meditation sickness."

The long-awaited 7th publication from the Varieties of Contemplative Experience (VCE) study investigates one of the most common and most disruptive and impairing types of meditation-related challenges: energy-like somatic experiences (ELSEs).
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/12/1042/htm

“Like a Vibration Cascading through the Body”: Energy-Like Somatic Experiences Reported by Western Buddhist Meditators There are numerous historical and textual references to energy-like somatic experiences (ELSEs) from religious traditions, and even a few psychological studies that have documented related phenomena. However, ELSEs remain an understudied effect of meditation in contemporary research. Based upon narr...

https://tricycle.org/magazine/meditation-sickness/

Buddhism’s Biggest Open Secret Taking a look at adverse effects of meditation in Eastern and Western Buddhist practice

For those who think meditation-related adverse effects are “rare”, check the science

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meditation-sickness-and-the-ethics-of-buddhist-studies-registration-199703968947?fbclid=IwAR06SAxig2nYPuP4nJXO7HIfkqy159l0KIGMPCH1PBkC3eLbztpeuvffYoI

Meditation Sickness and the Ethics of Buddhist Studies This is the first lecture of the Lingyin Lecture Series in Buddhist Studies 2021-2022 at Oxford University, sponsored by Lingyin Monastery.