5 Signs That You May Be Meditating Too Much

Do you crave meditation? Are you meditating longer than an hour at a time or more than once a day? Are you losing interest in family and friends or social activities? If so, perhaps you are experiencing an addiction to meditation. Have you ever heard that someone one has been doing too much Simran? Did you know that over- meditation can have serious side effects which may impact work, family life, and even health?

Meditation is an important aspect of Sikhism. Fourth Guru Raam Das wrote in the hymn "Gur Satigur Ka Jo Sikh Akhaa-ae" that one who considers them-self a Sikh should rise early, perform ablution and meditate.

The Sikhism code of conduct advises one to wake up three hours before daybreak, bathe, repeat "Waheguru" and perform nitnem prayers.

Meditation is desirable for advancing spiritually, and a powerful tool for change. Meditating has been proven to reduce stress and to be beneficial for treating depression, however, it's entirely possible to have too much of a good thing. Meditation can be habit forming, and even become addicting. Once the initial routine of regularly waking up early is established, you may find yourself restless and unable to sleep in the wee hours before daybreak. If you begin experiencing eagerness, or longing, for morning meditation, you may be simply feeling euphoric bliss. But it's also possible that you have developed a dependence for meditating. Excessive meditation may be pleasurable, but there exists the possibility of very real dangers to emotional, mental, and physical health with over meditation.

How can you tell if you are experiencing ecstatic rapture, or have developed an addiction to meditation? Here are five signs and stages outlining symptoms that you may be overzealous in your meditation and actually meditating too much.