Mental health is an essential aspect of overall well-being and is increasingly recognized as an important issue in today’s society. With the growing prevalence of mental health challenges, it is important to acknowledge the role of community and support in promoting mental health and well-being. Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (SAW)…
Tag depression
9 Duas To Recite When You’re Feeling Triggered
Have you ever experienced a panic attack while going through your day? Do you have anxiety or past trauma that always seems to creep up at the worst possible time? If you are anything like me, anxiety and panic attacks are a part of everyday life. Many times my past trauma causes me to feel…
Do You Know What “Colonial Depression” Is?
Have you heard of “colonial depression”? Colonial depression is the aptly named phrase, coined by Alicia Elliott, to describe the mental health harm that arises from colonialism and its corresponding infrastructures that center white supremacy and place a lower value on the lives of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people. In this Twitter thread, Indigenous author…
What Happens When Depression Comes for Your “Ramadan Feeling”?
Every year, I, along with millions of Muslims around the world, rejoice at the return of our old friend, Ramadan. For many of us, this month is a time of spiritual renewal, spending time with family and friends, and re-centering ourselves in our deen. Going into Ramadan this year, I was determined to prepare myself…
I Survived a Suicide Attempt, and This Is What Saved Me
Trigger Warning: This article contains references to depression and suicide, which some readers may find disturbing. Currently, the individual referred to in this article is well, having sought out the help they felt they needed. They have opted to share their story to show solidarity and offer advice for anyone going through the same situation. …
My Best Friend Is a “Grievous Sinner”
Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of suicide, abuse, and miscarriage. It may be difficult for some to read. It feels like yesterday. Staring at the ceiling in the dark, trying to sleep after excitedly texting my best friend twice to tell her about how I finally finished a project she encouraged me to start,…
#MGAnon: Why Is My Faith Slipping Away?
Welcome to #MuslimGirlAnon, your one-stop spot for all the advice you could need! Every week, we crowd-source the very best advice our #MGClique has to offer about issues plaguing our girl gang. Need some advice? Write to editorial@muslim-girl-2021-production.mystagingwebsite.com, and we may just feature you! Q: “I hate to use this word frivolously, but I think…
Four Self-Care Tips If You’re Feeling Lonely This Holiday Season
Holidays are supposed to ignite happiness and feelings of warmth, but for many who are suffering from intense sadness, this time of the year is anything but. For those of us who are coping with mental health issues, being bombarded with holiday posts that scream, “I am happier than thou”, can take a toll on…
Laugh the Pain Away: How Humor Can Help Us Cope With Life’s Issues
Life got you down in the dumps? Try laughing it off. No, seriously. Humor has been reported as an effective method of coping with all of life’s difficult experiences. Not only is laughter a natural stress reducer and symptom reliever, but the giggles also increase your life expectancy — that way you get to live…
This is Why It’s Important to End the Muslim Community’s Stigma Around Mental Health Challenges
As Muslims, we rely on God to heal us from our sins, our worldly obsessions, our sicknesses, etc. We believe that God has power over all things and that “verily with hardship comes relief.” As someone with a neuroscience degree, I believe that the brain is the most complex part of the body, and that…
This is Why the Media (and Muslim Community) Shouldn’t Criminalize Azzouz Boutobba’s Death by Suicide at Makkah’s Grand Mosque
Warning: Graphic images may appear in some of the links provided. Viewer discretion is advised. Azzouz Boutobba lost his mother in 2007. According to sources close to his family, he struggled with the loss well into his 20’s. His mother passed away while making her Hajj and was buried there. On June 8, 2018 (his…
This Is What Ramadan Can Look Like If You Suffer From Depression
It’s nearing the end of Taraweeh prayers on the first night of Ramadan and palms are open to the ceiling all around me. Amidst the tears, are cries of supplication to God, with emotion hanging heavy in the warm mosque air. To my left is a woman collapsed in prayer, weeping silently for the protection…
How to Navigate (Not) Fasting for Ramadan When You’re (Chronically) Ill
When we think about Ramadan, fasting is usually what comes to everyone’s mind. As Ramadan kicks off, you’ve probably already heard “Not even water?!” at least five times. Ramadan — particularly fasting — can be challenging, even for those of us in the best of health. For those of us with chronic illnesses, fasting during…
Depression Doesn’t Just “Go Away,” Even During Ramadan
It is 6pm, and the platform is unbearably hot. The train just arrived, but it’s useless to even try to get on. Post-work rush hour in Grand Central is no joke. I have no energy to fight the edgy commuters, so I stand back and watch them battle to squeeze themselves in the door, squishing…
These Two True Post-Partum Depression Stories Reveal Just How Real It Is
It was getting dark outside. Mayra knew that the clouds would bring the night a couple of hours earlier, and was hurrying to finish laundry. Several years from now, the young mother would witness the last nuclear bomb being tested outside of her window in a small town Semipalatinsk, and be the first one on the…