Muslims Can Never be Depressed #combatdepression
Have you ever heard the sheikh or khateeb tell you, “We are Muslims. We have Islam. We have Allah. How can we ever get depressed? Only people who are far away from Allah can ever get depressed.”
Chances are, if you are like me, this type of “reminder” might depress you even further.
I remember a sheikh at our local masjid giving a talk, commenting about peace and tranquillity, and then mentioning, “Wallahi, there is no need for psychiatric institutes and psychological clinics. How, when we have the book of Allah?”
The director of my university in Medinah mentioned that the key to happiness is tawhid. And he left it at that and I found this generally to be the case when we speak about these issues to some Imams and Sheikhs.
Well, it’s obvious that these people are extremely content with Islam as their religion, and that’s why they feel strongly about what they are saying. But does that rule out the fact that Muslims cannot get depressed? What’s going on here exactly?
Well I must tell you, that I have dealt with all the most severe mental disorders since I became a practicing Muslim. The most severe OCD, waswaawis, scrupulosity, and most recently, the most severe depression I have ever experienced in my life. And yes, I am a practicing Muslim, memorized Quran, going to the masjid for the prayers and pray five times day. I make dua, I say astaghfirullah (asking forgiveness from Allah) etc. What is the source of my depression? My relationship with the Quran, and not being able to connect to it in a healthy way.
What’s that? The Quran is the source of my depression? Well not really. It’s not the Quran. It’s not Islam. It’s the baggage that I brought along with me into Islam that became exasperated through the religion.
People who are at higher risk for developing depression are those who have self esteem problems, being pessimistic, traumatic or stressful events, history of mental health disorders such as anxiety or post traumatic stress, medications such as sleeping pills or high blood pressure medications.
Depression is more than just being simply unhappy or fed up, it’s a real illness and real symptoms as well as physical symptoms. Let me tell you I feel alone, broken, empty inside, no motivation and tired.
It may be difficult to explain in a short article such as this one, but what happens is a person who has become depressed has fallen into complete despair over their soul for an extended period of time. Whenever that happens, and they have given up on their own soul after ignoring it for a long enough period of time, they do things that push it away further, to push away the pain they may have experienced initially. It is a common thing with people who suffer from PTSD.
People used to say to me get over it, read more Quran and I’m in a place where you don’t get much support which made me even more depressed. I eventually found Sakoon counselling services who offered sessions via Skype, It was like a relief that there were Muslims who understood what I was going through and helped. Depression is not sadness. Spiritually, depression is a loss of vitality, an emotional death of the soul and spirit of a person, to where they become purposeless because of suppressing and despairing over their true selves. Sadness and grief, if not dealt with for a long enough time, and not channelled in a healthy way can also lead to depression.
Physiologically, the nervous system of a person has become stressed for such a long period of time, that it becomes overstimulated, which causes the systems of stress and anxiety to start occurring. Because the amygdala, which is emotional center of the brain is part of the nervous system, this too starts behaving erratically, thereby causing the symptoms of anxiety and stress which causes people to become further worried and continue the cycle.
Do I have any basis for what I’m saying here?
Well, for starters, my personal experience in dealing with these issues for many years. And secondly, there is an entire chapter in the Quran that is dedicated to dealing with self esteem issues and emotional issues. There are healthy ways to deal with the emotions and unhealthy ways, which lead to depression, and other psychological disorders.
The article started by stating Muslims can never get depressed but it is the opposite, Muslims can get depressed and it has no association with your level of faith. What I can tell you that Muslims do suffer worse because there are more dynamics to consider which isn’t covered in mainstream counselling. That’s why it’s important to work with a counsellor that understands your faith as well as applying Islamic counselling in the therapeutic process. #combatdepression
By Amir Yusuf edited by Ayesha Aslam
References: Surah Yusuf, Quran www.anxietycentre.com www.educatedanxiety.com www.helmyptsd.com Andrew Solomon, Depression, the Secret We Share. -Ted Talk
Fantastic article!
Nice article. Yeah I’m a muslim and I’m being tested with anxiety and depression too. And yes everything we go through is merely a test they are difficult so we need support and insight from those who have experienced such things and a little help and our sincerest faith in Allah and we can be blessed with understanding how to get through it and how to apply the patience needed. The depression and anxiety aren’t who we are they are just a moment we are going through and Allah blesses us with ease during hardships so Alhumdulillah 😊😄
May Allah bless us with the best of this world and the best of the hereafter ameen.
Asalaamu alaikum brothers and sisters.
Amazing article ?We need more practitioners in this field
Yeah.. I’m a teenager, muslim and, btw, it’s impressive how you’ve memorised the qu’ran as a practising Muslim, I haven’t even done that! But anyways, we’re humans too. We have feelings and we can express ourselves too, right? I mean.. I searched this very question up because I don’t want to tell my family because I thought they will react hastily due to our religion. Nice article though.
honestly guys just don’t let thoughts take over you, from many other Muslims I’ve heard don’t be alone too much because staying alone gives you too much time to think, thinking too much makes you doubt everything see the negatives instead of the positives guys, now I don’t know about others but this was my problem overthinking, I’m 15 and I’m quite an angry person things that are so small that no one would get mad at I would and it lead me to so much unwanted stuff and before I thought of it achievement as I grew older I realised how much i have lost myself and the people around me people that I thought were against me I realised I was the one who actually triggered. Anger and overthinking became my greatest enemy and biggest problem I’m still battling my thoughts and anger and i advise and I hope all of you stay away from your angry side , stay away from being alone to much and stay away from useless things that Damage your soul
Alhamdulillah. I’m Muslim and I suffered a sever depression disorder. I’m still having difficulties and I pray Allah will one remove the stress
Yeah.. I’m a teenager, muslim and, btw, it’s impressive how you’ve memorised the qu’ran as a practising Muslim, I haven’t even done that! But anyways, we’re humans too. We have feelings and we can express ourselves too, right? I mean.. I searched this very question up because I don’t want to tell my family because I thought they will react hastily due to our religion. Nice article though.
Thank you, though. This gave me a sense of understanding.
We need to separate the two. Islam and mental illness. Our trauma has no reflection on our ibadah. Remember Allah knows. If we find ourselves slipping away and questioning everything even though we know the truth. Just put your trust back in Allah as it’s just got blurred with all our trauma and mental health issues.
If we read things like Allah will only help you if you help yourself first. Remember this is Allah trying to help you but we can’t see it as our trauma seems bigger. When we slowly remove all the heavy layers of baggage. We will start to see clearly again and we will learn to love Islam and it’s beauty. Allah wants us to be happy but we need to navigate through life. If it was easy it wouldn’t be called a test.
Wow that was an amazing article, really told how I feel too, i have been to counselling but as you said rightfully they were not doing it with understanding of islam as my faith
Islam is making me depressed. As a teenager, I can’t keep up with my prayers and it’s been over a year since i’ve prayed a proper full day. I have 3 hours of Islamic class, which I can barely attend. I use to attend them but aftee being forced to memorize ayats after ayats I couldn’t do it anymore. after all of this I feel worthless because I can’t even memorize a meagre 10 ayats and pray 5 times a day, on top of having a life with homework and school.
It’s not islam that is making you feel depressed.. It’s Satan and something your heart is tempted by.. Islam Quran the life of prophet Muhammad peace be upon him the lives of the previous prophets and messengers peace be upon them all the previous believers and the tests and trials they had to endure.. All of this is interesting not what we see in the world today that is all a waste of time we gain nothing from it.. From islam we gain knowledge and insight wisdom kindness etc etc all of this gets us closer to being the best we can be.. We don’t have to reach a high level of goodness just whatever we find easy really it’s just that people like to make it look more difficult than it is… Even little deeds please Allah the Oft Forgiving Most Merciful.. So be charitable pray salaah serve your parents be kind to those in need and be grateful to Allah and focus on that which will benefit you in this world and the hereafter.. Including worldly things like education and work etc salaam sister