‘Depression is being Colorblind and constantly being told how Colorful the world is

A big part of Depression is feeling really lonely even if you are surrounded by a hundred people

Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and more hard to bear.

Yes, while faith, family, friends and many other factors can help – BUT they are not a guarantee that depression will cease or won’t exist.

A scholor in islam can help with a verse of Quran, a hadith, a dua or a fiqh ruling. But it is clear that the average scholar/sheikh may not be a qualified counsellor.

To manage OCD, depression and mental trauma, sexual and substance abuse – you have to seek the help of a trained therapist/counsellor. Your family, friends and local sheikh are secondary support.

Sometimes you feel like a deflated baloon. All your energy and motivation has been lost, you want to hide and avoid life

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

Hoplessness should never be an option. This does not mean you have to put on an act and pretend to be the happiest person in the world. This does not mean you are not allowed to feel sad

It means you have to reach deep inside your heart and replace the hopelessness with hope and trust in Allah.

You have to repeatedly speak to your heart and mind that this period will pass, “ease” will come soon. Train your mind to positive thinking. But you have to take action too. You have to write down your anxieties, your hopelessness, your depression and attack these with HOPE

You have to believe nothing lasts, you have to trust Allah, He is your Lord, He loves you and He is the one testing you and burdening you with only that much which YOU CAN BEAR. Shaitan is the one MAGNIFYING IT.

In Surah Ash-Sharh (94) – Allah tells us “So truly where there is is hardship there is also ease, truly where there is hardship there is also ease”

How do you console a person facing a loss or an affliction or is depressed?

The scenario could be just anything, a death, a divorce, a loss of child, a sickness, a financial loss etc.

1) Just be there personally for them, sometimes just being there pacifies a person to a large extent

2) Listen – Sometimes the depressed person just wants to speaks his/her loss without getting ample advice. So just stay quiet and listen.

3)Affirmation – Affirm their feelings. Affirm what their feeling is ok. Do not impose your opinions or the person may withdraw. Build a trust by speaking on their terms

4) Recite an ayat from Quran about hope, paradise, and ease (Surah Ad Duha, Susrah Ash Sharh, Surah Yusuf are best examples)

5) Remind them of good times in a optimistic manner and assure them that this too will pass.

6)Advice them only if needed or if they ask for advice. Keep in mind their state and advice only positively

7) Help them if needed. The help should be genuine, do not offer it unless you can really do it for them

8) Do not ever invalidate their problems, be empathetic (sensitive ) to their emotional state

9) Finally give them a kind reminder of gratitude for what they have.

Depression is REAL…. You can lose someone to depression. Consult a Counsellor or Therapist.