So I recently followed @muslimmental and thought I'd share my mental health journey. This is a thread. I'm overcoming my OCD and Alhamdulillah have gotten over my worst episode of depression. I am technically a Hafizah. I've memorized the Quran Alhamdulillah.
So i'm writing this to end the stigma on having mental disorders equals to you having weak iman. I'm not at all claiming that my iman is strong. But muslims suffering from MDD often gets the comment "oh read more Quran, get closer to Allah" which are good general advice
However, the mindset of depression and having other mental disorders are caused by the lack of ibaadah makes it harder for those in need of psychiatric treatment. Here is my story. As I mentioned, I memorized the Quran from the year 2014-2017.
During my memorization period I went through an episode in which I think was depression (not diagnosed at that time) I went through another episode this year and was diagnosed with MDD and OCD. I was battling my OCD since my teens (didn't know it was OCD at that time)
I believed that memorizing the Quran would completely heal me. It did help me a lot, but just as you can't cure diabetes with memorizing the Quran, neither can you cure depression with it. And on the side note, I made sure I understood every word that I was memorizing
Everyone around me was memorizing the Quran. I was surrounded by Quran and reminder of Allah 24/7. The environment that I was in is nothing but good. But I still went through a depression episode WHILE I was memorizing and another after I've completed memorization.
And it was mostly due to my OCD (again I had no idea it was OCD at that time) this year I said to myself. I need help. I went to MENTARI And got an appointment. Seeing a psychiatrist does not make you crazy. It means that you care for yourself.
If you are a muslim, getting antidpressants does not mean you have weak iman. No one knows the level of our Iman except for Allah SWT. Getting meds and going through psychotherapy means you are fighting for the life that Allah wants you to live.
Of course, Islam prohibits suicide. But having suicidal thoughts or attempts does not equate the person doomed for hell. And so we should never ever make the person suffering from feeling that way. Correcting our misunderstanding can save lives people.
If you or any muslim you know have suicidal thoughts or attempts, refrain from reminding them how that act is a sin. They know it already. You or that person, need help. The mind is not in a healthy state to have reached such a decision. So when the mind isn't healthy, we need to
We need to rejuvenate it's health. And who better to help you than healthcare professionals, pyschiatrists, clinical psychologists, medicine, therapy.
Jabir reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
There is a remedy for every malady, and when the remedy is applied to the disease it is cured with the permission of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious (Sahih Muslim)
There is a remedy for every malady, and when the remedy is applied to the disease it is cured with the permission of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious (Sahih Muslim)
Allah mentions in the Quran [16:43]
فاسألوا أهل الذكر إن كنتم لا تعلمون
Meaning : So ask the people of knowledge if you do not know.
If you are at your wit ends trying to survive another day, go and ask for help to those who help save lives.
فاسألوا أهل الذكر إن كنتم لا تعلمون
Meaning : So ask the people of knowledge if you do not know.
If you are at your wit ends trying to survive another day, go and ask for help to those who help save lives.
Any medical intervention have gone through decades of research and discovery from the worlds brightest minds.Guess who gave birth to modern medicine? Muslims. Guess who started treating mental illnesses with medicines? Muslims. I can cite the reference if you want me to.
So please, let's end this stigma together. Reach out for help if you need it. Encourage your loved ones to go to the psychiatric clinic if they need it. It's not going to be easy. But curing yourself from your illness is a sunnah on its own.
Upon learning about my OCD and understanding how the medical intervention works, I am amazed at the vastitude of Allah's knowledge. Alhamdulillah I am getting better after seeing my psyciatrist. I take my meds everyday day and night, and have gone through several therapy sessions
Trust Allah, but tie your camel. An illness will not cure itself without a remedy.
Next year #psikosistv will air with @AimanPsikologis as the host and I will be featured sharing a bit of my journey with OCD
To learn more about mental health in Malaysia do follow @DrAmerSiddiqPsy @zaidrostam @MIASAMalaysia @mindakami @TheSpeakSpace @khalilpsych @AimanPsikologis
