Depression Help From a Muslim Therapist

About Aisha Chaudhry

Aisha Chaudhry is an Aalimah and Muslim Therapist. She specializes in trauma which often looks like depression, anxiety including OCD, intrusive thoughts, health anxiety, and panic. She has a special interest in helping clients learn how to calm the body through a combination of neural informed therapies, Internal Family Systems, CBT, and Exposure-Response Prevention. For clients looking for integrated therapy, a holistic approach is available.

Depression Help from a Muslim Therapist

The information contained herein is to offer a comprehensive overview of Depression (not for treatment or diagnosis) with special emphasis on what Depression often looks like in some of the Muslim populations, particularly among the Muslim women I provide therapy and help to. It is important to get treatment from a Muslim therapist, particularly, one who has studied Islam and who knows the Islamic rulings surrounding the issues clients seek treatment for both clinically and Islamically. This need has proven beneficial for the Muslims I care for who have said that Depression help from a Muslim therapist has been a game-changer for them. Why is this?

Therapeutic Alliance: It is important for the client to develop a good therapeutic relationship with the therapist. This can only happen if the client feels safe enough to discuss matters that they feel embarrassed about or fear they may be judged negatively due to them. Sometimes thoughts and feelings are very difficult to communicate to anyone, which is one of the reasons for lack of seeking care at all. The topics that often come up for Muslim populations are often related to what they value most, and some Muslims have felt shamed or as though they have weak beliefs because of struggling with depression.

What is Depression?

Depression is a common and sometimes serious disorder. It can cause feelings of sadness, loss of interest in activities you previously enjoyed, and can bring a sense of hopelessness.

It is very normal to feel similar feelings after experiencing a loss. We don’t consider that to be a disorder, although those feelings can increase and go on to become a disorder.

Individuals who suffer from depression often have thoughts of despair and worthlessness. They often feel low energy and as though everything is a chore. Some individuals report wanting to sleep and never really getting enough rest to feel fresh when they awaken. Down below, I’ll list the technical criteria for a clinical diagnosis of Depression.

Why Does Depression Come?

Sometimes individuals are prone to having a melancholy personality, it may be a learned behavior, and it may be the body’s way of protecting itself.

As a Muslim therapist, what I believe is that it is our soul, body, and minds, way of letting us know things are not okay inside. I see it as a message that somewhere in our lives there is an inner conflict.

Those messages might sound like this:

You’re working too hard and I am forcing you to slow down by making you feel down.
You’re not taking care of what you feel is important so we’re going to try to balance things for you.
There is something you need to slow down and heal from.
There is a ‘perceived’ threat that I want to protect you from, so I’m going to slow life down for you so you don’t engage, withdraw for introspection, and focus on bare living.
The perceived threat might sound like, “you’re not good enough so don’t try, engage, put yourself out there, or risk it. We’re not going through ‘that’ painful thing again.
Your inner critic might be chattering in your head and telling you negative things and creating a constant sense of hopelessness, despair or making you want to give up. It might seem like options aren’t available because it’s harder to see them when we’re feeling gloomy.

You might not be able to really hear those messages without getting help, but together, as a Muslim therapist, I will help you look inside yourself and see what messages there are to be heard, holistically and right in line with your peace and comfort.

Risk Factors for Depression

There is no single cause for depression. You are more likely to experience depression if you have had:

Stressful life events which kick-start the depression. These can include losses (e.g. bereavement, the end of a relationship, losing a job), transitions (e.g. leaving home, retiring, having a baby), physical illness, loneliness, or any other significant, traumatic, or stressful events.
A habit of thinking negatively. More than just a pessimistic attitude, these are patterns of automatically seeing the worst in things (“glass-half-empty thinking”), blaming yourself, or discounting your achievements.
Early experiences which made you vulnerable to depression. These can include poverty & deprivation, abuse, neglect, bullying, poor relationships, or living with a parent who was preoccupied and dealing with their own difficulties.
Genetic predisposition. There may be genes that make you more likely to develop emotional problems in general, but there is not yet any strong evidence that indicates that specific genes make you more likely to develop depression.
Medical and substances use. Some medical conditions, prescription drugs, alcohol, and other substances can create symptoms in line with Depression.
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can create depression, so it is always important to rule those out if you have symptoms of depression.
Inflammation in the body due to foods, allergies, or other health conditions has been linked with depression. Research has shown a good correlation between reducing inflammation and depression symptoms improvement.

Symptoms of Depression

What Individuals With Depression Say

My clients often describe their symptoms as a lack of desire to get up and do normal things. Of course, how much they feel depends on the severity of their depression. On the other hand, some clients share that few people if any would ever know they are struggling because they mask their symptoms so well. It is important to be assessed because depression and how that looks like in life can vastly vary.

Individuals often say things like:

I feel like giving up.
I feel like nothing is or is ever going to get better.
A week or so before my period comes, I can’t stop crying or like I want to rip off people’s heads.
I get mood swings around the middle of the month or around my period, but no other times.
I feel sad in the wintertime.
I am too tired to really put in the effort.
It’s a chore to pray and do everything.
No one cares or loves me.
Allah probably won’t even forgive me at this point.
No one will ever like or love me.
I am not good enough to be like others.
Everyone’s so much better than me, why should I even try?
I feel so guilty that I’m not living the life I want, or that I should have.
I don’t think I should even try.
I should be doing so many things.
No one ever feels like I’m worth it.
I just can’t get my work done.
No matter what I try I can’t make myself feel better or snap out of it.

Don't Believe Everything You Think

Just because you think it, or others even say it – it does not make it true! Sometimes we give so much weight to things we or others seem to think that it can really start carving away our wellbeing and happiness.

Sometimes we even get comparitis – where we feel like we need to keep up with others because of what others think we should be how we’ve somehow concluded we need to be. This can be found in families who are very conscious of cultural and religious expectations.

Sometimes we make up a lot of rules for what needs to happen in order for us to feel better. We buy into it so much, and yet no one can bear that weight. We need to step back and see what kind of rules we have made in life, and what kind of rules we are imposing on others to follow as well so that we can feel better. What we need and what we want can often look like two different things. We can be well, even in situations that seem impossible.

Am I Bad Muslim?

Everytime someone asks me this, a part of my heart breaks. The answer is no, you are not a bad Muslim. You are not bad. The next part that is asked is…”even if I am not doing my prayers or other worship (Ibadah) so well?” and “Will Allah forgive me?:

The answer to both of those is Yes! Even if you’re not praying or doing other things like you feel you should. Allah will forgive you.

A lot of times, Muslims have been made to feel shame, guilt, or embarrassment because or others feel their religious commitment is not where it ‘should’ be and that creates so much distress. People say there is no huzn (grief, despair, depression, or sadness) for Muslims or believe they should never experience that.

This is exactly why I would encourage you to work with me. As a Muslim therapist and Aalimah, I will help you understand what is happening in a holistic manner so you feel empowered and not powerless, hopeless, and shamed.

I can imagine that for someone already feel down and bad about how they are feeling and their perceived lapse in not being good enough, not doing things well enough, or feeling intense love for Allah swt, shaming them is not going to help them feel inspired and empowered to lift themselves up.

As a Muslim therapist and Aalimah, I will accept you for who you are, where you are, and help you toward where you want to be. I will hold that space for you unconditionally.

Somewhere along the line you must have developed a “core” belief that you’re bad based on something that happened to you, and you never really worked it out and balanced it off. Take a look at the graphic below to see how core beliefs are made and shapes life experiences.

Diagnosing Depression

To diagnose Depression, I use the criteria specified by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Additionally, I use one or more assessment instruments to create a baseline of symptoms and their severity. This helps us know where we are starting so that we know if we are progressing. However, as a Muslim therapist who has experience in treating depression, I will look at the totality of a person in relation to your lifestyle, culture, and practices.

The criteria for Major Depressive Disorder:

Diagnostic Criteria

A. Five or more of the following symptoms being present at the same time and represent a change from previous function, and one is either a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure (or both).

Depressed mood and symptoms most of the day, nearly every day (examples: sad, empty, hopeless, irritability, tearfulness).
Marked diminished interest or pleasure in all or almost all activities nearly every day.
Weight loss when not dieting (e.g. more than 5% change in body weight in a month) or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day. (Children may not gain expected weight).
Not sleeping or sleeping too much nearly everyday.
Psychomotor agitation or slow movement
Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive and inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day.
Diminished ability to think or concentrate, indecisiveness, nearly every day.
Recurrent thoughts of death (not just the fear of dying) recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.

B. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning.

C. The episode is not due to using substances or another medical condition and is not due to a death, financial ruin, natural disaster, etc.

D. The episode is not better explained by other similar disorders. (The therapist will rule those out).

E. There has never been a manic or hypomanic episode.

To Be Specified:

Mild
Moderate
Severe

Treating Depression

Depression is among the most treatable of mental disorders. Between 80% and 90% percent of people with depression eventually respond well to treatment. Almost all patients gain some relief from their symptoms.

Before a diagnosis or treatment, a health professional should conduct a thorough diagnostic evaluation, including an interview and a physical examination. In some cases, a blood test might be done to make sure the depression is not due to a medical condition like a thyroid problem or a vitamin deficiency (reversing the medical cause would alleviate the depression-like symptoms). The evaluation will identify specific symptoms and explore medical and family histories as well as cultural and environmental factors with the goal of arriving at a diagnosis and planning a course of action.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, or “talk therapy,” is sometimes used alone for treatment of mild depression; for moderate to severe depression, psychotherapy is often used along with antidepressant medications. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been found to be effective in treating depression. CBT is a form of therapy focused on the problem solving in the present. CBT helps a person to recognize distorted/negative thinking with the goal of changing thoughts and behaviors to respond to challenges in a more positive manner.

Psychotherapy may involve only the individual, but it can include others. For example, family or couples therapy can help address issues within these close relationships. Group therapy brings people with similar illnesses together in a supportive environment, and can assist the participant to learn how others cope in similar situations.

Depending on the severity of the depression, treatment can take a few weeks or much longer. In many cases, significant improvement can be made in 10 to 15 sessions

Electroconvulsive Therapy

ECT is a medical treatment that has been most commonly reserved for patients with severe major depression who have not responded to other treatments. It involves a brief electrical stimulation of the brain while the patient is under anesthesia. A patient typically receives ECT two to three times a week for a total of six to 12 treatments. It is usually managed by a team of trained medical professionals including a psychiatrist, an anesthesiologist and a nurse or physician assistant. ECT has been used since the 1940s, and many years of research have led to major improvements and the recognition of its effectiveness as a mainstream rather than a “last resort” treatment.

Medication

Brain chemistry may contribute to an individual’s depression and may factor into their treatment. For this reason, antidepressants might be prescribed to help modify one’s brain chemistry. These medications are not sedatives, “uppers” or tranquilizers. They are not habit-forming. Generally, antidepressant medications have no stimulating effect on people not experiencing depression.

Antidepressants may produce some improvement within the first week or two of use yet full benefits may not be seen for two to three months. If a patient feels little or no improvement after several weeks, his or her psychiatrist can alter the dose of the medication or add or substitute another antidepressant. In some situations, other psychotropic medications may be helpful. It is important to let your doctor know if a medication does not work or if you experience side effects.

Psychiatrists usually recommend that patients continue to take medication for six or more months after the symptoms have improved. Longer-term maintenance treatment may be suggested to decrease the risk of future episodes for certain people at high risk.

As a therapist, I don’t advise if individuals must take medication. Usually, I try to work with individuals first even if they have moderate and severe levels of depression. However, if after a few sessions, I don’t see improvement in the ability to engage in therapy, I refer to a Psychiatrist. I always invite the client to decide their care every step of the way. Nothing is ever forced on a client.

Natural Remedies

Some individuals may be interested in knowing how to treat depressive symptoms medicinally themselves without taking medications prescribed by a Psychiatrist. First, I would encourage you to go through the intake process to see if you have a disorder and if so which kind and severity. Maybe a few adjustments is all you need, and we’ll open that up to really see your unique needs.

Steps you can take before your intake appointment, though not necessary, include:

Getting your Thyroid Panel checked by your doctor as this is known to cause fatigue, body pain, sadness, and other depressive symptoms.
Check your vitamin D and other vitamins and minerals as those can cause depressive symptoms.
Ruling out any medical conditions related to the stomach that may prevent proper absorption of nutrients.
According to Harvard Medical School, Omega 3 Fatty Acids can improve depressive symptoms along with many other mental health conditions. Read More
Gut health and reducing inflammation in the body through Omega 3 Fatty Acids and an anti-inflammatory diet can help. Read More
You can research supplements containing serotonin, 5 HTP, L-Tyrosine, L-Dopa, Dopamine and others to learn more about how these compounds work in the body and understand more about your medications. (WARNING: please do not self-medicate because some medications can cause manic symptoms and other effects, which can put you at risk.)

Self-Help, Family Members & Friends Support

There are a number of things people can do to help reduce the symptoms of depression. For many people, regular exercise helps create positive feelings and improves mood. Getting enough quality sleep on a regular basis, eating a healthy diet and avoiding alcohol (a depressant) can also help reduce symptoms of depression.

Other means include seeking religious connection and attending religious talks where hope and encouragement can be found. Small activities that can provide spurts of pleasure, encouragement, and a source of energy are highly advised.

Family members and friends can encourage by listening without judging, encouraging engagement and activities according to your energy level.

Depression is a real illness and help is available. With proper diagnosis and treatment, the vast majority of people with depression will overcome it. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, a first step is to see your family physician or psychiatrist. Talk about your concerns and request a thorough evaluation. This is a start to addressing your mental health needs.

Related Conditions

Although most individuals will use the word Depressed to describe how they are feeling, an individual may be experiencing depression as a part of another condition, or it may not be categorized as “Major Depressive Disorder.” It is important to be evaluated for your symptoms and not try to self-diagnose and treat. Depending on what your symptoms look like in your life a completely different treatment plan may be necessary.

Examples of other conditions that include depression:

Peripartum depression (previously postpartum depression)
Seasonal depression (also called seasonal affective disorder)
Bipolar disorders
Persistent depressive disorder:
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder

Disclaimer

None of the information on this website is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. This information is for educational use only. Please get treatment if you feel you are struggling with different symptoms.