I Was Stuck In A Cycle Of 'Stress, Burnout And Insomnia'- Until I Tried This Ancient Ayurvedic Practice

Ever felt like your mind just won’t turn off? Like you're trapped in a never-ending cycle of stress, sleeplessness and exhaustion—fuelled by caffeine and pure willpower? You're not alone. We all drive ourselves through life, believing burnout is the cost of doing business. But what if there was a quick, scientifically-proven way to escape?For Arghya Dutta Choudhury, life was a draining blur of deadlines, self-doubt, and relentless overthinking—until he got to know about Transcendental Meditation (TM). What was a desperate attempt to take back control became a powerful transformation. From crippling insomnia to a deep sense of inner calm, his journey reveals shows how 20 minutes of meditation, twice a day, can reboot the mind, balance emotions, and even help you sleep better.He worked full-time as a content writer at 29, juggling deadlines, career demands, and personal issues. Though academically successful, his thoughts ran non-stop, making him feel emotionally unbalanced and reckless. Anxiety, together with incessant overthinking, made it virtually impossible to concentrate, resulting in self-doubt and emotional burnout.As with others trapped in the cycle of burnout, his sleepless nights only made him worse. Insomnia became an unwelcome visitor, and day-to-day activities became a strain. The convergence of work-related stress and lack of relaxation compelled him to higher levels of tiredness and emotional distress. Tired of this, he tried meditation, but his early spiritual quest was wanting in depth and change."My mind was always racing, and it was hard to concentrate on work or even appreciate simple things," he remembers. The pressure of his high-stress job, combined with lack of sleep and emotional instability, drove him into burnout cycles that compromised his productivity and relationships.One of his biggest challenges was insomnia. No matter how exhausted he felt, falling asleep—and staying asleep—was an ongoing battle. “I would wake up feeling just as drained as the night before,” he says. This constant state of exhaustion left him struggling to perform at work and maintain personal relationships, leading to a downward spiral of stress and fatigue.Eager to resolve the issue, Arghya discovered Transcendental Meditation in June 2016. TM is a very easy yet highly effective meditation practice based on Vedic traditions that is meant to enable one to go beyond thoughts and enjoy deep relaxation. TM is different from other types of meditation that need one to focus intensely because it enables the mind to settle down naturally into a state of great stillness.His initial TM session was nothing less than a revelation. "For the first time, my mind felt absolute silence," he says. "It was like someone had thrown a switch, and all the commotion in my head just disappeared." Inspired by this instant sense of peace, Arghya began practicing TM daily—and the change was phenomenal.In weeks, Arghya experienced a deep transformation in his mind and emotions. The impulsiveness that used to drive his choices slowly faded away, replaced by an inner sense of balance and clarity. He was more patient, more grounded, and less reliant on external stimuli to feel content. "I no longer needed constant social media stimulation or overwork to feel complete," he says. Rather, he found happiness in solitude and in the ordinary everyday moments.The most striking alteration was in sleep. For years, he had fought insomnia. Now, he slept soundly and deeply at last. "For the first time in years, I woke up feeling refreshed," he remembers. His output increased, his emotional strength increased, and he no longer was bogged down by the rigors of life.In 2024, Arghya attended the 10,000 for World Peace Assembly at Kanha Shanti Vanam in Hyderabad, where meditators from 134 nations came together to bring orderliness to the group consciousness. The experience of the raw power of thousands of people meditating as one made him realize more intensely the vast impact of TM.He also learned Yogic Flying, an advanced practice in the TM Sidhi Program, during this event. "Yogic Flying enabled me to reach a new level of self-awareness and mental clarity," he reports. This advanced practice solidified his understanding that he was not just his thoughts and feelings—he was the quiet observer beyond the mental chatter. This shift in perspective liberated him from the emotional storms that had previously dominated his life.Arghya's path was supervised by Ms. Aditi Shrivastava, a diligent teacher of Transcendental Meditation. While looking back on his change, she provided an overview of TM as a transformative instrument for psychological and emotional equilibrium. "Individuals approach TM hoping to break free from the shackles of stress, tension, and sleeplessness. And gradually, a complete shift takes place in their consciousness," reveals Aditi.According to Aditi, TM not only heals but also empowers individuals to take control of their mental health. “The beauty of TM lies in its simplicity. Unlike other meditation techniques that require years of practice, TM delivers results relatively quickly. With consistent practice, individuals develop greater emotional resilience, enhanced cognitive function, and an overall sense of inner peace.”She underscores that though the journey of every meditator is different, the most important aspect of transformation is commitment and faith in the process. "Meditation is not a quick fix, but with consistency, it wires the brain differently and allows individuals to get stability and clarity in life," she adds.Arghya offers one piece of advice to anyone suffering with either or all of what he went through, "Give meditation a chance. The peace you are looking for is already inside you—you just need the proper tools to find it."

I Was Stuck In A Cycle Of 'Stress, Burnout And Insomnia'- Until I Tried This Ancient Ayurvedic Practice

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