Hello
I want to ask i have maladaptive daydreaming, overthinking, insomnia problems
During the day I think a lot and when at night I try to sleep insomnia occurs.I couldn't sleep if I try to That's when anxiety triggers and make problems more difficult for me
Due to overthinking my forehead feels heavy all the time
Also sometimes even if I sleep when I wake up I feel I didn't sleep
I don't wake up feeling sleepy
I wake up feeling heavy in my brain and feel as if I hadn't slept
I tried meditation for 10 days and it isn't helping much
Earlier when I didn't have these problems meditation use to calm my mind in 4-5 days
But now I can feel the problem is bit enhanced
I don't want to take medication
I want to ask for how much time I should do meditation so I can see good result?Also is this problem not a big one I feel heavy hearted when I see people around me don't have such problems I cry a lot
Also provide me with other measures to solve this problem.I hadn't slept for 6 months
Answers (12)
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. My Opinion (As a Psychiatrist):
Dear patient, thank you for sharing your detailed struggles. From what you describe — excessive overthinking, inability to relax, disturbed sleep, and feelings of mental exhaustion — this seems to be part of an anxiety-spectrum condition, possibly Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) with maladaptive daydreaming acting as a form of psychological escapism. The fact that you’re not feeling rested even after sleep and experiencing physical symptoms like heaviness in the head suggests both cognitive hyperarousal and physiological stress accumulation. Meditation can help, but it alone may not be sufficient in moderate to severe cases
Next Steps
2. Next Steps (What Should You Do Next?):
✅ Consult a mental health professional (psychiatrist or psychologist) to get a formal evaluation.
✅ Don’t worry if you don't want medication initially — therapy techniques like CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) can be tried first.
✅ You may be offered relaxation training, grounding exercises, and journaling therapy, which can ease both your overthinking and sleep difficulties.
✅ If insomnia has been ongoing for 6 months and meditation isn't helping, professional support is essential — prolonged insomnia can worsen emotional and cognitive symptoms.
✅ You can also consider structured online CBT for insomnia (CBT-I) if physical consultation isn’t feasible.
Health Tips
Helpful Tips / Word of Caution:
🧠 Meditation is a tool, not a cure. It often works best when used along with professional therapy. Give it at least 4–6 weeks of daily practice (20–30 minutes), preferably guided by a trained therapist or app.
📵 Avoid excessive screen time, especially 1–2 hours before bed.
🌙 Maintain a strict sleep hygiene routine — fixed wake time, no caffeine after evening, and a wind-down ritual before bed.
🚫 Avoid suppressing your feelings or labeling yourself as “weak” — what you're going through is treatable and you are not alone.
⚠️ Untreated anxiety and insomnia can lead to burnout or depressive symptoms — early intervention is the key.
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🏥 Health 4 U Clinic, 249 Gufa Mandir Road, Near First Step School, Jain Nagar, Nayapura, Lalghati, Bhopal
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Hello
You’re experiencing a mix of maladaptive daydreaming, overthinking, and insomnia — all feeding into each other. The heavy feeling in your head, emotional crying, and unrestful sleep are signs of mental exhaustion, not weakness. Meditation alone may not work now because your mind is overwhelmed.
This is a treatable condition, and you don’t need medication right away. Try doing guided Yoga Nidra or body scan meditation twice a day for at least 3 weeks. Start CBT journaling to release overthinking from your system. And set a fixed “worry hour” daily — it teaches your brain when to stop spiraling.
You’re not alone. You’re not broken. With the right steps, you can heal.
Take therapy, and you can connect with me on nine two six six seven two six zero six five.
As per my advice, you should consult a Psychiatrist so that medication can be started at low dose with relaxation exercises and sleep hygiene. When an individual's life is getting hampered in personal, social, professional domains, symptoms do not get relieved only on relaxation exercises solely.Do not bother regarding medications, hardly one or two medications will be needed that further will be tapered down, you are facing trouble for last six months,you must consult as per my opinion
Hi
The progression of your problems warrant a detailed history and psychiatric examination. We can go for non medication options if required, like psychotherapy but that might take a lot of patience and time.
Measures like meditation does not always help and can sometimes exacerbate anxiety issues.
Next Steps
Consultant a Psychiatrist near you or book an appointment
Health Tips
Do not delay consultation as it can significantly worsen the symptoms and make treatment more challanging
Will need to evaluate you to come to an appropriate diagnosis and it looks like you will benefit from medications. Do book an appointment for further discussion.
The distress you’re experiencing seems to stem from a cycle of overthinking, emotional overwhelm, and poor sleep—possibly linked to anxiety or a related condition. Your awareness of the issue is a strong first step, and it’s important to know that this is a real and treatable problem, not a personal weakness. While medication is one option, many people benefit greatly from consistent mindfulness practices, structured routines, and therapy. You don’t have to face this alone—reaching out, as you’ve done now, is a sign of strength, not failure.
Hello, thank you for sharing your experience. What you’re describing—persistent overthinking, maladaptive daydreaming, emotional heaviness, and disturbed sleep—can be emotionally and physically exhausting. These experiences are often linked with psychological mechanisms such as rumination, where the mind stays caught in a loop of repetitive thoughts, and cognitive hyperarousal, which can interfere with the ability to relax or fall asleep.
Maladaptive daydreaming is not just regular imagination—it becomes a concern when it starts interfering with real-life functioning, sleep, or emotional well-being. It is often a coping mechanism developed over time, especially when the mind seeks comfort or distraction from unresolved stress or emotional discomfort. Similarly, insomnia that persists over months, especially when accompanied by mental overactivity or restlessness, is often associated with underlying emotional or cognitive patterns like anxiety, unresolved tension, or difficulty processing day-to-day experiences.
It’s also important to understand that feeling emotionally affected by comparing oneself to others is a common psychological experience. This can stem from internalized self-judgment or the assumption that others are coping better, even when we don’t have access to their full story. Feeling heavy-hearted or tearful is a valid emotional response and can indicate that the mind and body are signaling the need for deeper emotional care and attention.
These experiences don’t mean there is something “wrong” with you—rather, they are signals that your mental space may be overwhelmed or dysregulated, and it’s entirely okay to acknowledge that. Psychological stress doesn’t always show itself in dramatic ways; sometimes it builds gradually through disturbed sleep, emotional sensitivity, or difficulty controlling thoughts. Understanding this is the first step toward self-awareness and healing.
You’ve taken a meaningful step by articulating what you’re going through. These patterns are not uncommon, and there is help available. With the right psychological understanding and support, things can become much lighter and manageable.
If this problem is getting worse and you are not able to solve it on your own better you should consult a psychiatrist...eight three one nine four nine one nine one five...
Disclaimer : The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
Disclaimer : The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
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