Mental Health in Islam and the Qur'an - Advice

[Samuel123]

Greetings Friends
I am a Mental Health proffessional from england who was brought up technically a christian but non-practicing.

I currently work with severel young muslims who are experiencing early signs of psychosis, many of them due to trauma they have experienced in there lives.

Unfortunatly i have difficulty getting support from their families due to the common Islamic beliefs that psychosis is due to evil spirits or Jinn.

My knowledge of the Qu'ran, although i am open an interested in its teachings, is limited.

i was wandering if you could direct me to any specific Surah or share your views on how i could explain the nature of psychosis and the work i do and shed light on the importance of psychiatric help in a way that is inkeeping to islamic teachings.

Thankyou

Fi Amanillah

[AslamP]

. There are many answers to your question, it all depends on what kind of help your patients need; when you say "early signs of psychosis," what do you exactly mean by that? Since psychosis has a vast number of definitions, you can't categorize all patients and the signs of their behavior under one label. Before I go any further, some points need to be discussed, you asked if there's any reference in the Quran; reference to what, psychosis or the Jinns and spirits? I will tackle both anyway; as far as Jinns are concerned, yes, Quran has many references, foremost is that God also created the Jinns out of intense fire. Satan is listed as from the Jinns. Quran indicates there are good and bad Jinns. For example, obviously, Satan is one of the bad Jinns; good Jinns listed in the Quran would be the ones who were passing by in the area when Prophet Muhammad was speaking, upon hearing his speech of the teachings of the Quran, they listened and took the news to the other Jinns, saying to them what a wonderful speech they heard, accepting Islam. Evil spirits are mentioned in the Quran as from the class of Jinns. Halucinations, delusions and thought disorders come under psychosis, so according to the Quran and the Bible, it says Abraham (Ibrahim in the Quran) had a dream to sacrifice his son for God, and therefore, he ventured out to do so. If Abraham existed in this era, he would be your biggest patient for life! I'm only trying to make a point, not that if anyone had such a dream, they should act on it - please, guys, give me a break here! Anyway, Since you mentioned that the patients' families are saying it could be the Jinns, well, are some patients having such delusions as seeing things out of the ordinary? If so, their whole life's history and mind frame has to be studied. In such an occurrence, it's normal for a person to have thought disorders. You said of your patients having trauma, what kind of trauma? Again, going back to the Quran, Marium (Mary in the Bible) was having trauma when she found out she will have a child without having a man involved, that God was going to put a child in her womb...if she existed in this era, you'd have another patient for life, Sir! My point is, if you really care about these kids, please look beyond your practice of what you have been taught by the mainstream teachings. I will give you an (true) example that took place in my life, a doctor referred a 12 years old boy to me who had been raped over 200 times by his pastor and guiding counselor; he was put under psychiatric help. He lived with his hyper aunt, his parents had passed away. This boy was not only abused by the system at the church but also by our health care professionals and the law! Everyone making money off of his "trauma". He was sent from one institution to another, he was given seven different kinds of pills. I researched his medications and some of the side effects were hallucinations, delusions, thought disturbances, etc., to list a few. Behavior counselors and state attorneys kept fighting in the court that the boy has behavioral problems; that he doesn't "cooperate," therefore he should be institutionalized. I was saying all along the boy needs love, guidance, and understanding - no pills or locking him up in a room with people bothering him all day under the label of psychiatry. The law won, he was pushed around and abused by all systems. When I visited him, he was happy and showed no signs of delusions or that he had any behavioral problems. I always spoke to him with kindness and encouraged him to move forward and not let all the abuse defeat his existence, It was a long fight with the system. When he got out, he came to see me and he said, I quote, "It's because of you, I survived. One day I'm going to become a doctor and do what you do!" This is one story, I have many. In this era, psychiatry has become a joke, every human emotion has a label and medication to go with it! Creation of pharmaceutical companies! I don't have degrees in psychiatry or related professions, only a good heart and common sense! Yes, sometimes, I repeat, sometimes (rarely), it may be necessary to go the normal route of psychiatry that's taught - but in my mind it's still in question. You said you are not in any practice of any religion, warning signs are blaring in my mind! As much as the history of the patients are looked into, I truly believe the doctors should be in question, too. My best advice to you is, don't treat these kids as numbers, go the extra mile, path to humanity, Sir, treat them the way you would want to be treated. Humanity doesn't have religion, race or a financial status - only a simple rule, do onto others what you want done to you! And if you believe in God, can you prove His existence; and if not, what label should you be listed under and what medication should you be given for your "delusion?" Here's some reference to Jinns or spirits, google, Truth Is Your Power.com, it will give you more information. Good luck, Sir.