{"title":"Backdraft in Self-Compassion: An Overlooked Yet Vital Research Focus","authors":"","doi":"10.1007/s12671-024-02324-7","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Abstract</h3> <p>Self-compassion involves treating oneself with the same kindness, understanding, and forgiveness that one would typically offer a friend in times of suffering or adversity. While self-compassion has shown consistent benefits in research and therapy, including psychological and physical health benefits, some individuals practicing it may initially encounter adverse reactions known as “backdraft.” Backdraft has been theorized to be an inevitable part of healing and recovery from past hurts and trauma. However, empirical studies specifically examining backdraft experiences in the context of self-compassion are lacking. This commentary argues that integrating broader literature outside of self-compassion is crucial for advancing our understanding of the causes of backdraft and identifying practices to alleviate it. Specifically, ideas drawn from traditional Buddhist practices and phenomena conceptually similar to backdraft, such as fear of self-compassion from compassion-focused therapy and adverse effects of meditation practices used in mindfulness-based interventions, should be considered. This commentary concludes that there is an urgent need to establish a clear definition of backdraft. This may promote empirical investigations of the backdraft experiences arising from self-compassion interventions. Only through empirical research can we better understand this backdraft phenomenon, with the ultimate goal of reducing short- and long-term harm and improving the efficacy of self-compassion programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":18523,"journal":{"name":"Mindfulness","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Mindfulness","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-024-02324-7","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Self-compassion involves treating oneself with the same kindness, understanding, and forgiveness that one would typically offer a friend in times of suffering or adversity. While self-compassion has shown consistent benefits in research and therapy, including psychological and physical health benefits, some individuals practicing it may initially encounter adverse reactions known as “backdraft.” Backdraft has been theorized to be an inevitable part of healing and recovery from past hurts and trauma. However, empirical studies specifically examining backdraft experiences in the context of self-compassion are lacking. This commentary argues that integrating broader literature outside of self-compassion is crucial for advancing our understanding of the causes of backdraft and identifying practices to alleviate it. Specifically, ideas drawn from traditional Buddhist practices and phenomena conceptually similar to backdraft, such as fear of self-compassion from compassion-focused therapy and adverse effects of meditation practices used in mindfulness-based interventions, should be considered. This commentary concludes that there is an urgent need to establish a clear definition of backdraft. This may promote empirical investigations of the backdraft experiences arising from self-compassion interventions. Only through empirical research can we better understand this backdraft phenomenon, with the ultimate goal of reducing short- and long-term harm and improving the efficacy of self-compassion programs.
期刊介绍:
Mindfulness seeks to advance research, clinical practice, and theory on mindfulness. It is interested in manuscripts from diverse viewpoints, including psychology, psychiatry, medicine, neurobiology, psychoneuroendocrinology, cognitive, behavioral, cultural, philosophy, spirituality, and wisdom traditions. Mindfulness encourages research submissions on the reliability and validity of assessment of mindfulness; clinical uses of mindfulness in psychological distress, psychiatric disorders, and medical conditions; alleviation of personal and societal suffering; the nature and foundations of mindfulness; mechanisms of action; and the use of mindfulness across cultures. The Journal also seeks to promote the use of mindfulness by publishing scholarly papers on the training of clinicians, institutional staff, teachers, parents, and industry personnel in mindful provision of services. Examples of topics include: Mindfulness-based psycho-educational interventions for children with learning, emotional, and behavioral disorders Treating depression and clinical symptoms in patients with chronic heart failure Yoga and mindfulness Cognitive-behavioral mindfulness group therapy interventions Mindfulnessness and emotional regulation difficulties in children Loving-kindness meditation to increase social connectedness Training for parents and children with ADHD Recovery from substance abuse Changing parents’ mindfulness Child management skills Treating childhood anxiety and depression