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Depression Definition
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Causes of Depression
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Depression stats around the world
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Symptoms & Impact of Depression
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16 Islamic Solution for different conditions
Depression is considered a serious
medical condition that can get worse without proper treatment. https://www.healthline.com/health/depression
This
article focusses on “strengthening the mental state by developing strong believe”
without discouraging the use of proper treatment and medication as prescribed
by the physician.
Reasons of Depression
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Fear خوف
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Anger &
Rage غصہ
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Guilt ندامت
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Loss of Dear One محبوب کی جدائی
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Business / Job
Loss تجارتی نقصان
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Trouble relationship تلخ رشتے
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Mission Unaccomplished مقصد کا عدم حصول
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Too Much Burden کام کا بوجھ
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Unhealthy competition ناموافق مقابلہ
We
will be discussing about each with its solution in the later part.
Depression stats around the world
According to
National Institute of Mental Health www.nimh.nih.gov
322 million people are affected by Depression and 264 million by Anxiety. 20%
of teenagers are affected by Depression related conditions. Most of them (around
90%) tends to take their life by suicide. India has around 100 million such
cases as per recent report of TOI.
India is
among top ten countries with higher suicide rates as per statista.
Symptoms of Depression
Once a person goes under depression, he tends to show the following:
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Anger, frustration aggressiveness, irritability,
anxiousness, restlessness etc when interacted
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Hopelessness or feeling of sadness in any future progress
and development
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Loss of interest in things which he uses to take interest
earlier
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Lack of concentration and not able to focus on regular
tasks
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Lack of sleep or irregular sleep cycles.
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Fatigue & Pains after doing normal tasks
Impact of Depression
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Lower
productivity because of lack of focus and concentration
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Broken
relationships due to aggressiveness and frustration in behaviour
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Development
of chronic diseases like cardio, obesity, diabetes etc
Can Muslims Be Depressed?
Yes!
We all are Humans and goes thru moods fluctuations in different condition. Many
elites have gone thru this situation but they did come out of it successfully.
A
Complete Chapter (Zuha) in Quran is to address Depression; where the Revelation
was stopped for certain period (which is called Fitrat ul wahi). Prophet
Mohammed SAS became anxious whether he has committed any fault that the Lord
has stopped sending Revelation.
Quran says that مَا وَدَّعَكَ
رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَىٰ - (O Prophet),
your Lord has neither forsaken you, nor is He displeased. (93:3). Quran
has counted the blessing shown in early Life of Prophet like Orphanage, Poverty
& Lack of Knowledge and asked him to “Count your Bounties & Act
positively”.
False Solutions
People
affected by Depression try to find solace in wrongful things like, Drugs, Alcohol,
Smoking, Going to Isolation or some time taking extreme steps in doing suicide
and taking their life. These steps don’t provide a solution but complicate and
worsen the situation.
In fact, Quran says وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا You shall not kill yourselves. Surely Allah is ever Compassionate to you. (4:29). We don’t have right on taking our life. This is an Amanah (Trust) given to us by Allah.
Quranic
Solution to Depression
Quran Highlight 16 different scenarios which leads to depression, Before going thru them its to be highlighted that the one person who can bring the difference is “Me” unless we change our thoughts / emotions by taking appropriate action to bring about the change nothing will happen.
Quran
says Verily Allah does not change a people's condition
unless they change their inner selves. And when Allah decides to make a people
suffer punishment, no one can avert it. Nor can any be of help to such a people
against Allah." (Ar-Ra’d 13:11)
We
should develop positivity, start believing in ourself, our destiny by putting trust
in Allah.
Feeling of Guilt:
When a noble person who is pious in his life commits a sin due to some circumstances, he starts to have a guilt feeling. The thought of being a sinner keep on haunting him. Quran give a solution in this situation to immediately turn to the Creator and seek his repentance. He will find Allah as most forgiving and merciful. These are the ones who, when they commit any indecency and wrong against themselves, instantly remember Allah and implore forgiveness for their sins - for who will forgive sins save Allah? - and who do not wilfully persist in the wrong they did. (3:135)
Total Despair:
Those type of people who has been indulged in their whole life doing various sins; when their inner consciousness regains and they wish to correct themselves; They get a feeling that after doing so much of sins, he might not be forgiven; which makes him despair; For such people Quran says “Tell them, (O Prophet): “My servants who have committed excesses against themselves, do not despair of Allah's Mercy. Surely Allah forgives all sins. He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful. (39:53); They have to be positive with Allah; If they turn to Him sincerely then for sure Allah will forgive all their sins however big they are.
Loss of Dear One:
Imagine a situation of a Father who knows that his sons
is destined to be the most successful person of his period, he was lost in his
tender age and he keep waiting for him for more than thirty years. Quran brief the
sorry state of the father He said: "I will address my sorrow and grief only
to Allah, and I know from Allah what you do not know. (86)
Too many Problems: We as a human has inbuilt resistance to overcome sudden shocks and problems which comes across us in different stages of life. But some time we are bombarded with problems which looks beyond our resistance. We find it difficult to come out of such problems.
Quran says Allah will find a way out for him who fears Allah, (2) and will provide him sustenance from whence he never even imagined. Whoever puts his trust in Allah, He shall suffice him. Surely Allah brings about what He decrees; Allah has set a measure for everything. (65:3). The key to success here is to have Taqwa (piety) and Tawakkul (Trust in Allah) which will take us out of problems and provide the solutions from the arena where we least expect. That’s the power of faith. Most of us who believe in Him would have definitely experienced such divine help in hopeless situations.
Fear is normally due to anxiety about future and Grief is due to some past events or deeds which keep haunting us. These events and deeds could be due to society, Business, dealings, relationships, politics etc. Islam ask its followers to lead a principled life and be firm to their principles and ethics; and when they are determined and steadfast in their path, those obstructions will not affect him. Moreover, Allah promises for those that he will send Angels who will assist him in such situations. Those who say “Allah is our Lord” and then remain steadfast, upon them descend angels (and say): “Do not fear nor grieve, and receive good tidings of Paradise which you were promised. (41:30).
Work Overload:
Professionals working in multi-tasking environment
often get depleted and exhausted. Most of the time their thankless contributions
are ignored and small mistakes are highlighted. Such people feel disappointed
in those conditions. Quran says Allah will never load a person beyond his
capacity; one might have immense potential which was not explored, but
challenging environment helps him in developing himself and explore his hidden
talents. Quran says
Hence,
he should try to do the following:
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Increase
capacity to be able to deliver challenges
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Learn
to Say No for the tasks which cannot be done
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Delegate
tasks which can be done by others
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Pray
to Allah not to over burden him and ease his workload.
Unaccomplished Projects / Mission:
In a mid of a mission, some of the people find that inspite of all their efforts their projects are not delivering the required results; which leads to stressful condition. In such situations one should review himself, continue doing his sincere duty and surely Allah’s help will reach him when all his options are exhausted. "(Remember) when the messengers despaired and thought that they were denied, then came unto them our help, and whom we would want were saved" (Yusuf 12:110). History is full of such events for those who want to explore.
Anger:
People
under the influence of Anger and rage takes actions which become remorseful at
a later stage. Story of Jonah (Prophet Yunus AS) is explained in Quran for the
guidance of people to control Anger and not to take hasty decisions. In the later
eventful scenario person should recognize his fault and seek pardon from the
Lord. They will find the lord ever merciful and Forgiving. "
Bullying & Peoples Torture:
In some inhumane societies, people with power, status & wealth try to look down other people and tease them. Such behavior of people have profound impact on ones life; if we carryon with such torture in our minds then it mental health will be disturbed; Quran says. “who restrain their anger, and forgive others. Allah loves such good-doers." (3:134). the best solution is to forgive others not because they deserve forgiveness but we need to live in peace
Bounties & Tragedies:
People when receive sudden shock of sadness or bounties & joy often are unable to cope with it. Either they began to be depressed due to grief our become arrogant due to bounties. Suhaib ibn Sinan narrated that the Prophet said: "How remarkable is the case of the believer! There is good for him in everything, but this is not the case for anyone except for the believer. When the believer receives any good, he is thankful to Allah, and gets a reward. And when some misfortune befalls him, he endures it patiently, for which he is (also) rewarded." {Fiqh as-Sunnah, vol.4, p.1.} Controlling ourselves with Patience and gratitude is the solution.
Sharing of Resources:
In daily office works or household chores there are tug of war to share limit resources. If every one start fighting to get more share than the environment will become political. Quran says "They prefer them above themselves, even though they themselves may be in poverty" (Al-Hashr 59:9). One should develop sacrificing habit to maintain harmony around us.
Business losses:
In the age of Pandemics when businesses are making losses, jobs are scarce. Financial life become very difficult to survive. Quran says We will surely put you to trial by involving you in fear and hunger and by causing loss of property, life and earnings. And give good tidings to those who remain steadfast in these trials: (155) when a misfortune comes to them, they say, "We are Allah's and we shall certainly return to Him, ‘’ (2:156). Allah put people on trial with such situations; we need to have patience to overcome.
Palpitation:
With uncertainties hanging around, people have palpitation feeling, Allah says Surely in Allah's remembrance do hearts find rest. (13:28) Zikr (remembrance) plays a pivotal role in bringing us to peace. Sunnah shows lot of zikr to pacify our minds and hearts.
Habitual Sinners:
People who repent and again go back to sinful life makes mockery of themselves. Allah says “Believers, turn to Allah in sincere repentance; maybe your Lord will expunge your evil deeds and admit you to the Gardens beneath which rivers flow. (66:8)” (Taubatun Nasuha) Sincere Repentance means to repent from a sin with the sincere desire to abandon it, acknowledging that you have done wrong and sincerely planning in God's presence to find ways of avoiding that sin in the future
Balancing life between Hope vs Fear:
One should learn to balance life between Hope and Fear. True Believer are model of such characters Those whom they call upon are themselves seeking the means of access to their Lord, each trying to be nearer to Him. They crave for His Mercy and dread His chastisement. Surely your Lord's punishment is to be feared. (17:57)
Celebrity status:
People often carve for being in limelight and do all possible things to be highlighted. Once a person came to Prophet Mohammed SAS and asked tell me a deed which gives me the love of Allah and love of people Prophet replied “Renounce the world and Allah will love you. Renounce what people possess and people will love you. (Ibn Maja)” If someone meets other without carving for worldly benefits then definitely, he will develop affections towards the other because of his nature and compassion
Islam guides people to a purposeful life where the one who believes on it will have eternal
peace in his life. May Allah bless us to abide by His divine principles and be
successful in both the worlds. Aameen
Very nice topic and timely all should go thru once and spread it to own extent maybe fruitful to depressed person
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