“Call the shaykh! There’s a jinn in her!”

The belief that mental problems are attributed to a lack of faith, spirit possession, bad karma, and the evil eye is strongly engrained in many non-Western cultures. This may encourage families and individuals to avoid seeking help for their psychological problems for fear that they will shame their family or that they are revealed as being weak. Some cultures also believe that admitting to having a mental health problem is a form of loss of face and shameful. (Aloud & Rathur, 2009; Cauce et al., 2002; Sarfraz & Castle, 2002; Vogel, Wade, & Hackler, 2007)

This quote makes me want to yell “I told you so” to my former self. I remember my family thinking I was possessed by jinns when I first got sick. It seems like most Muslims who first show signs of mental illness think that the spirits are to blame. They then proceed to do ruqaya and when that doesn’t work, we finally seek from a mental health professional. As the above quote shows, unfortunately, some Muslims continue to believe this myth and don’t bother to question because it is so engrained in their mentality and culture.

Jinn Possession vs. Mental Illness

Even though my family was really knowledgable (at least I like to think so), we still fell in this trap. Centuries ago, this view was common in the Western world. But they have moved away from that. The Muslim world still believes confuses mental illness with a jinn possession.

So let’s get the facts straight. The signs of a jinn possession are:

1. Delay/Negligence of religious obligations

2. Abhorrent reactions to Quran/Adhan

3. Detesting of “religious” people

4. A decrease in cleanliness

5. Change in social attitude. Often towards solitude

Source: Shaykh Navaid Aziz

The above signs are very different from symptoms of mental illness. And in my experience, many of the mentally ill Muslims are practicing Muslims. So why do we blame the jinns. Ignorance. I hope to dispel that misinformation with this simple post.

Mental Health Challenges are Real

Let’s look at an example on how to differentiate between a mental disorder and a spirit possession. Much too often, a Muslim hears voice, sees things and believes erroneous thoughts. None of these symptoms relate to the above signs. Next time when you or a loved one thinks jinns are in the picture, come back to this post and compare your notes to the above list and take the necessary precautions from there.

Now I can see some of you shaking your heads. Yes, I know jinn possession is real and we do believe it in Islam and we have treatments or cures for it. I just get really irritated when we confuse the spirits with illnesses like schizophrenia. My aunt told me once that a mentally ill woman in Pakistan was burned alive because they were trying to get the “jinns” out of her.

How sad that a myth can cause such ignorant abuse. And I am sure there are many cases like that. So please share this post so that we can stop burning the mentally ill not only physically but also psychologically.

Muslim Mental Health Misconceptions

Check out these posts below in the “Seven Silly Mental Illness Misconceptions” series:

1. “Call the shaykh! There’s a jinn in her!”

2. “It’s all my fault”

3. “Just pray more”

4. Liver and Other Weird Treatments

5. “You’re just weak!”

6. Stupid, Crazy and a Retard

Enjoy and please do share so we can eradicate mental illness stigma once in for all.

#mentalillnessmyths #mentalillness #Stigma #islam #jinn #muslimmentalhealth

“It’s all my fault”

“It’s all my fault.” This misconception around mental illness makes us believe that we spilled the coffee when in actuality, it was the table with a missing leg. But this isn’t easy to understand when all you can focus on is the coffee mug.

That’s how mental illness is. It consumes you so much that you lose touch with reality. You go in your own bubble and keep pointing the finger inwards. And though, that self-pointing can be tied to taking responsibility, you are doing anything but that. You actually start to feel shame and think that you deserve this.

YOU are not to blame...

Knowing that having a mental illness is not all your fault can be relieving. There are many causes for having a disorder and it has very little to do with what you did. You must familiarize yourself with this myth so that you don’t fall in it’s trap. And what a great way to do that then by reading and sharing this post.

"The belief that mental problems are attributed to a lack of faith, spirit possession, bad karma, and the evil eye is strongly engrained in many non-Western cultures. This may encourage families and individuals to avoid seeking help for their psychological problems for fear that they will shame their family or that they are revealed as being weak. Some cultures also believe that admitting to having a mental health problem is a form of loss of face and shameful"

Reference: (Aloud & Rathur, 2009; Cauce et al., 2002; Sarfraz & Castle, 2002; Vogel, Wade, & Hackler, 2007).

Allah Loves You

This quote from the research paper “Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviors of Muslim Immigrants in the United States: Overcoming Social Stigma and Cultural Mistrust” really hits home. Many Muslims who are diagnosed with mental illnesses think that they have done something wrong to deserve it. What’s worse is when others start saying that it is your fault too. “God is punishing you for all the bad things you did.” Oh that’s a classic one. And oh how I’d like to slap the people who said this to my mom when I got sick. So you’re telling me that Allah is punishing me? Oh really, are you some prophet who gets revelation from Allah telling you that I’m being punished!?

Pardon the venting rant, I just needed to get that out. However, there is a point to be made. Allah could be punishing someone with a mental disorder but He could also be testing someone with it because Allah loves to test those His favourite slaves. And being sentenced by Allah is really not a bad thing. Why? Because it is all a purification. After all, diamonds are made under pressure.

Rise Above Your Disorder

So, what to do with this blaming business? Whether you point the finger or someone else, just remember that having an illness is part of your destiny. Diamonds come from dirt and true angels come from earth. Rise above your disorder by:

1. Accepting that there are many reasons as to why you have a mental illness and you are not one of them my friend.

2. Having a mental illness is a test and/or trial. It’s part of life and everyone has their own share. Trust your struggles.

3. Let your illness be your wisest teacher and best friend.

This process of purification and acceptance takes time. Get help from your support team and remember our blog is always here alhumdulillah 🙂

Muslim Mental Health Misconceptions

Check out these posts below in the “Seven Silly Mental Illness Misconceptions” series:

1. “Call the shaykh! There’s a jinn in her!”

2. “It’s all my fault”

3. “Just pray more”

4. Liver and Other Weird Treatments

5. “You’re just weak!”

6. Stupid, Crazy and a Retard

Enjoy and please do share so we can eradicate mental illness stigma once in for all.

#mentalillness #myfault #shame #Allah #Stigma #islam #MuslimMentalHealth

Liver and Other Weird Treatments

Many of us know the story of Hajar’s (peace be upon her) plight to find her baby some nourishment. She didn’t just calmly search for some water. She frantically ran between the two mountains or hills (I forgot what they were exactly) scanning for any sight of food for her wailing baby. In my head, this story was only theoretical but as I entered the mental illness advocacy field, this story became an experiential one.

I remember a mother who was desperately searching for a cure to her son’s schizophrenia. Although they were following a medical treatment, it wasn’t enough because her son was still getting sick. Then a friend told her about a treatment that a “knowledgeable” person prescribed from their native country. Guess what the treatment was? The title of this post sort of gives it away. The mother was told to buy cow liver, rub it on her sons arm for thirty days and then dispose of it daily in a secluded area in a park. Lo and behold, the mother started doing this. But of course there was no result except a sign that the city put up saying no littering in the exact area where the mother had been throwing the liver.

Desperate for a Mental Health Cure

So what’s the deal here? Yes these frantic methods mothers or others do to save themselves or their loved ones are weird but the more important question is why do people do these kinds of things in the first place? Hajar’s (peace be upon her) measures seem more logical than the liver prescription but let’s not dismiss this attempt either.

The point is that some people will do anything to escape the shackles of mental illness. And though the methods they employ may not make sense to us, we do have to commend them for trying. That is the take away from here. Mental disorder treatment does have a lot of bogus tricks and tips but do your best to sift through the bag and use the tools that are safe, sane and successful.

Be Open to the "Weird" for Mental Health Treatments

What does that screening entail? The filtering requires research on your part. Learn about your disorder and the possible treatments. Don’t dismiss something simply because it is weird.

For example, at one time I thought it was weird to take medication for bipolar. It just didn’t make sense to me because I saw my disorder as something mental and the pills were suggesting the opposite. It took time and some episodes for me to realize that these “weird” pills could actually do wonders for me.

I’m not saying that you have to accept every treatment or cure that comes your way. It’s true that some methods are utterly stupid and maybe dangerous but some are not. I’m staying away from listing the good and the weird ways to treat mental illness because it all depends on you and the kind of disorder you have. For some x, y and z will work and for others a, b and c will.

Mental Health Cardinal Rules for Muslims

But there are some cardinal methods that you should definitely stick by such as:

1. Medication: mental illness requires a cocktail of pills and depending on the severity of the disorder, some people require more and others require none at all. Get help from your psychiatrist and see what you need.

2. Allah: I know as Muslims we already have Allah in our lives but with a mental illness, you really have to stick with Him. Some will tell you that Allah is penalizing you with this sickness. But what do they know? The illness can also be a trial or a way to make you closer to Allah. The point is we can never know whether it is a test or punishment so just use it to make Allah love you more.

3. Healthy lifestyle: This means have a healthy diet, regular sleep and exercise.

There will be many other treatments that well-meaning Muslims will offer you. And many of them are just trying to help because it pains them to see you sick. Instead of getting angry at them, give them the benefit of the doubt. Try their method as long as it is not harmful to your faith, health and wallet. And when you don’t agree with them or don’t think their advice is for you, just decline politely. Turn down their counsel but don’t turn THEM down.

And just for the fun of it, I’m going to list some weird treatments I’ve heard:

1. Essential oils: Not to discount their benefit but if they were the cure, why do we still have mental disorders? I’m sure they can help as part of a holistic treatment. Just don’t come telling me or any other mentally ill Muslim that oils are the cure for their stormy disorder.

2. Tawiz aka amulets: This is just utter stupidity. Folding an ayah, surah or dua, putting it in a little locket and then wearing it or putting it in your car’s dashboard or under your pillow is not going to cure anything. You are much better off reciting whatever you put in that silly contraption.

3. “Miracle” nutritional supplements: No comment. Yes, couple it with your medication but it alone is not going to get rid of the voices in your head.

I know there many more remedies out there so please entertain us and do share them below.

Muslim Mental Health Misconceptions

Check out these posts below in the “Seven Silly Mental Illness Misconceptions” series:

1. “Call the shaykh! There’s a jinn in her!”

2. “It’s all my fault”

3. “Just pray more”

4. Liver and Other Weird Treatments

5. “You’re just weak!”

6. Stupid, Crazy and a Retard

Enjoy and please do share so we can eradicate mental illness stigma once in for all.

#bipolar #cure #medication #MuslimMentalHealth