Feeling Stressed? A leaflet for
Muslims
What is mental illness?
In times of stress, it is natural to feel down or upset,
sometimes this can become serious and turn into an illness. Mental
illness is any illness of the mind. It can affect how you think,
how you feel and how you behave. Mental illness can affect
anybody.
What is it like to have a mental illness?
You may feel sad, worried or scared. You may start to believe
unusual things and have unusual experiences. You may find it hard
to think clearly and you may do things you would not normally do.
Your work or studies may suffer and you may feel alone.
Is mental illness real or just imagined?
We know that these illnesses are real illnesses
- just like physical illnesses such as diabetes. They are caused by
actual changes in the way the brain works. They can run in families
and can be caused by stress. Therefore it is very important that
people seek medical help for these problems.
If someone is having these experiences, it is important
for them to see a doctor.
What if my problem is caused by Jinn possession or Evil
Eye?
People can mistake mental illness for Jinn possession or Evil
Eye. So, even if you feel that you may be possessed or cursed, it
is important that you see a doctor to find out if you have a mental
illness.
What about faith healers and traditional remedies?
If you use traditional remedies, it is important that you also
see a doctor as they may have other treatments which work. Some
traditional remedies can be harmful to someone with mental illness,
so you should check with the doctor before taking them. Hitting or
beating someone with mental illness will never make them better and
is a crime.
Can't I just go to my friends or family for help?
Of course. Most of us will go first to our friends and family if
we are going through a difficult time, but sometimes this is not
enough. If these problems continue or become serious, you should
speak to your doctor. If you have a mental illness, you will need
the help of a trained professional.
What will the doctor do?
First the doctor will talk to you about your problem to find out
if you have a mental illness. The doctor may offer you treatment,
or may ask you to see a psychiatrist (a doctor who specialises in
treating mental illnesses).
The psychiatrist will ask you about the problems you are having,
before talking about ways they can help.
Everything you tell your doctor or psychiatrist will be private.
If you do not speak English, someone can translate for you.
What treatments are available?
- Medications prescribed by the doctor or
psychiatrist.
- Talking therapies (talking to an expert about
your problems in detail).
- Help with your social situation (housing, finances etc.)
Is medication widely used?
Medications for mental illness do work and are widely used. They
can make you feel much better and are not addictive. Side-effects
are usually mild and tend to wear off after a couple of weeks.
It is sometimes necessary to take medication to recover from a
mental illness. If someone has a chest infection, they may have to
take antibiotics. Similarly, if someone has depression, they may
have to take antidepressants.
Isn't prayer enough to cure this illness?
Prayer is very important, but since we know that these problems
are caused by an illness, it is important to seek help from a
doctor for the problem in addition to prayer. The Prophet (PBUH)
said:
"Make use of medical treatment, for Allah has not made a disease
without appointing a remedy for it ..." (Kitah Al-Tibb of Sunan
Abu-Dawud)
I am worried about what other people will think if they find
out I have a mental illness.
It is important to get help for a mental illness as it can
affect your family life, job and relationships. The earlier you get
help, the sooner you will get better.
1 in 4 people will, at some point in their lives, have a mental
illness, so we must all make an effort to treat people with mental
illnesses with sympathy and encouragement, just as we do people who
have other illnesses.
If you are having any of these experiences you should
see you doctor. If you think someone you know may have a mental
illness, you should advise them to see their doctor. Here are some
other sources of help and information:
© Kamran Ahmed. May 2012.
This leaflet reflects the best available
evidence available at the time of writing.
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