Most of the average human population, unfortunately, got told to find distractions rather than sitting and relaxing the mind. Because while some thoughts can be horrible to bear, the state of mind gives it power. If the mind is more relaxed, it will be less prone to be triggered. Meditation is the opposite of escaping from thoughts. It is sitting with your shadows, deepest side and balancing it. You see your own issue below you, if you notice - after meditation. Meditation is not just sitting but also the act of thinking (medit-a(c)tion) which brings to answers or seeking for them. You can't even get distracted if you are a mess inside, so you need to relax your brain waves in order to return to be lucid. Meditation is about focusing, in the contrary of the stereotype that surrounds this practice. It's about directing the mind in another place, ambient, kind of energy. This teaches you how to direct your thoughts when you want to, gradually and so, to control your mind more. The brain, needs rest and, meditation is one of these practices that make it rest or the best. With a not rested brain, everything will sound hard, tragical and triggering. Meditation is about reaching the heaven to see your struggles from above and seeing them in a more, balanced way.
Reaching this point, you will become more aware of your thoughts and your mind will become more lucid since it gets more rest from the rushy or stressful life you have had. Meditation should be practiced by everyone to reach inner peace after a stressful day. Everyone needs to cleanse and have their ideas clear after a long stressful day and so, to cleanse their thoughts pattern.
You'll notice that even distractions won't work without a rested brain. You'll start to not be able to focus anymore not even on a simple thing, which is a horrible state. To fix this, as said above, you need to purify your mind and so your soul from all the things you absorbed on a stressful day or in general.
Silence is the way to be in darkness, chaos is the way to feel in the nothingness, which is not light neither darkness. Nothingness in a negative, dissolving way. Nothingness in silence is positive, which is about getting rid of toxic ego and all the things that aren't part of your true self.
If someone is not able to meditate, it simply is lack of will and motivation, which come from depression often.
Take care of your mind and feelings, everything will be okay.