India, Sept. 12 -- You may think of meditation as a quiet escape from a busy mind. You sit down, close your eyes, follow your breath and wait for the noise to settle.

But what if looking inward does not always feel calming?

A recent report by The Atlantic's Olga Khazan highlights the lesser-known side of mindfulness through the work of psychologist and meditation teacher Willoughby Britton. Her research looks at people who say meditation gave them difficult and, in some cases, lasting experiences.

That does not mean meditation is harmful for everyone. In fact, Khazan notes that research has linked meditation with several benefits, including improvements in anxiety and stress. But the story raises a question worth considering if you med...