Depression Help From a Muslim Therapist

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 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?

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. Further down, I list the criteria for a clinical diagnosis of depression.

Why Does Depression Come?

Depression usually comes from a mix of biological, psychological, and life factors. Sometimes individuals are prone to having a melancholy temperament, it may be partly a learned pattern, 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 mind’s 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, telling you negative things and creating a constant sense of hopelessness or 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, 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.

Depression creates a cycle and can feel overwhelming and hopeless to break.

Risk Factors for Depression

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

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 what it looks like in life, can vary vastly.

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 I feel 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.

Am I a Bad Muslim?

Every time 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 question that is often asked is, “Even if I am not doing my prayers or other worship (ibadah) so well?” and “Will Allah forgive me?”

No, struggling does not make you a bad Muslim, and Allah’s mercy is vast. He forgives those who turn back to Him, even when you’re not praying or doing other things like you feel you should.

A lot of times, Muslims have been made to feel shame, guilt, or embarrassment because others feel their religious commitment is not where it ‘should’ be, and that creates so much distress. Some people say there is no huzn (grief, despair, depression, or sadness) for Muslims, or believe they should never experience it. Yet even Prophet Ya’qub (peace be upon him) grieved deeply and said, “I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah” (Qur’an 12:86).

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 who already feels down and bad about how they are feeling, and about their perceived lapse in not being good enough, not doing things well enough, or not feeling intense love for Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala), 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 may 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 how they shape 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.

In summary, the criteria for Major Depressive Disorder are:

To be specified: mild, moderate, or severe.

Summarized in plain language from the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-5-TR. Only a qualified professional can make a diagnosis.

Treating Depression

Depression is among the most treatable of mental disorders. Between 80% and 90% 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.

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 called postpartum depression)
• Seasonal depression (also called seasonal affective disorder)
• Bipolar disorders
• Persistent depressive disorder
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
• Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (in children)

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