Mindfulness: Why it Might Not Work For Everyone

Mindfulness. Reconnecting with our bodies. Pulling ourselves into the present. It is the in-the-moment awareness of our environment, thoughts and feelings, and not being overwhelmed by what’s going on around us or how we react to it. This technique has been suggested to most people at some point in their lives, whether at school, work or by family and friends. For some, mindfulness will allow a person to slow down their thoughts and understand what’s going on around them. For others, it’s just a strategy that has no effect, and that’s okay.

There are numerous articles and webpages singing the praises of mindfulness and why everyone should give it a go. The main selling point of mindfulness is that it can improve mental wellbeing and alleviate stress. By being aware of the present, people can then rationalise their thoughts and deal with them in a productive manner.

However, when all we hear are the positives of mindfulness and its benefits, when someone finds this strategy does not work for them it is easy for them to feel like they are doing something wrong or ‘failing’ at mindfulness. And this in itself is at odds with the whole point of the technique. The most common mindfulness practice is meditation, but sitting in silence and paying attention to your breathing is not a helpful strategy for everyone.

Mindfulness techniques are not successful for everyone, and everyone’s reasons can be different as to why this happens. Studies have shown that around 25% of those who have tried meditation or mindfulness at some point have had negative experiences. While this figure is fairly low, it is still evidence that mindfulness is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach to improving mental health. One reason for this could be that people focus too much on what they expect to happen, rather than ‘live in the moment’ as mindfulness aims to do. Some individuals may enter their mindfulness journey anticipating immediate results and consequently get frustrated when this isn’t the case. Mindfulness can occasionally be oversold by individuals for whom the strategy has been successful. It is not a be-all and end-all cure, and it can’t change the world. When someone goes in with the high expectations that have been promised, they can feel the process has been a failure for them.

Another reason as to why mindfulness may not be effective for some people could be related to past trauma, if the individual has faced this. Focussing on the present and how the mind is feeling can heighten the fight or flight response, consequently leading to disrupting thoughts about this trauma. However, the fact that mindfulness can cause distress to those who have experienced trauma is not one that is widely spoken about. A factor that doesn’t help individuals who stop practising mindfulness because it didn’t work for them is those people who insist that they should keep trying or that it’s a skill they need to develop. This can lead to consistently practising mindfulness only to be met with the same distress they faced before. There are still ongoing studies discussing who mindfulness is and isn’t successful for, and so hopefully in the coming years there will be more definitive answers to this question.

If you are one of those people who mindfulness just doesn’t work for, there are plenty of other options to alleviate stress and anxiety. It’s just about finding what works for you. Creative individuals may want to tap into this side to express themselves and process their feelings in a healthier way, perhaps focussing on music, dance or art, or even purchasing a mindful colouring book. Others may turn to physical activity such as walking, running or other sports, releasing feel-good hormones causing us to feel happier, and becoming more consciously aware of the body to feel more ‘present’. Studies have proven that physical exercise can have multiple benefits to our mental health including better sleep and increased self-esteem. For some this may be achieved just by being outside, walking the dog or even cleaning!

There are aspects of mindfulness that can be carried out, such as breathing exercises, that don’t require sitting in silence and clearing your mind. There are several breathing techniques out there, and they may not work for everyone, but with so many to try one may be successful for you. Mindfulness can come in various forms. It is not only the practice of meditation and clearing our minds of any thoughts that is so commonly mentioned. It can, in fact, just be an activity you enjoy that enables you to calm your thoughts and clear your mind. When the typical strategy doesn’t work for you, it is not a failure, only an indication that you need to keep searching for that one strategy that works for you.