Is depression caused by a problem with the brain or is it spiritually related?

[Salahudeen]

What do you guys think?? is depression an illness that you just get like any other other illnesse, that has to be cured with drugs/medicine.

or do you think it's deeper than that, some people feel depressed for abosolutely no reason at all, they just can't get out of that depressed mood.

other people are unhappy with their lifes so they feel depressed all the time

what do you guys think is a cure for depression besides medication/drugs.

I remember reading ages ago in an article depression comes because of constant negative thoughts, and if you think positive thoughts instead the depression goes.

it's all to do with the thought process the article claimed, and it said hypnosis can cure depression by filling the subconcious mind with positive thoughts and feelings that will over time replace the sad/negative thoughts and feelings.

what you guys think?? I asked sheikh Salem Al Amry once how to get rid of depression and he said dhikr of Allah and knowing Allah.

do you guys think depression can be removed by following Islam? what if a person feels so depressed and hopeless that he can't bring himself to do anything and finds motivating himself to be the hardest thing ever. No doubt our external environment also plays a part in how we feel.

if your living in the UK where the weather is always cloudy and miserable with rain and short days, your gonna feel not so happy compared to if you were living in a nice sunny country with long days.

the short days are so horrible, you wake up and it's dark go to work/uni sit in a office all day, come out and it's dark again. how do you not feel depressed.

 

[CosmicPathos]

I think depression is caused by a biological process. The trigers of this biological process could be "spiritual" in nature and from personal religious perspective, yes they are. The problem though is that depression cure varies from people to people. Some can be cured by dhikr of Allah (swt), others get cured by listening to music or something! And then there are who never get out of depressive mode.

 

[Salahudeen]

^ yeah, the doctor advised my mum a few years bacl to listen to music cos it lifts your mood. hmm interesting, I've noticed personally I always feel depressed in winter, I feel like I'm lost and all ways miserable, never talk or socialise, I literally hibernate in my house.

winter blues I think it's called. but depression is just a feeling isn't it, a feeling of sadness,despair and hopelessness. but it's hard to replace it with positive feelings :|

hmm I feel for those people who can never get out of depression mode, they must resort to pills eventually

 

[CosmicPathos]

^ yeah, the doctor advised my mum a few years bacl to listen to music cos it lifts your mood. hmm interesting, I've noticed personally I always feel depressed in winter, I feel like I'm lost and all ways miserable, never talk or socialise, I literally hibernate in my house.

winter blues I think it's called. but depression is just a feeling isn't it, a feeling of sadness,despair and hopelessness. but it's hard to replace it with positive feelings :|

hmm I feel for those people who can never get out of depression mode, they must resort to pills eventually

yes, winter is my pet-peeve. Especially, snow. I used to love it when I was living in the desert. Always wanted to experience snow. But once I have been imprisoned in this winterland, winters are my depression-triggers. When all life dies, colors fade away to white snow and black tarmac roads ... aah, the colors of nature ....

I wonder how humans lived in the last ice age which ended about 10000 years ago .... I cant imagine how much tough it would have been for them ... I wish they had left behind diaries and poems that we could relish.

 

[Alpha Dude]

what you guys think?? I asked sheikh Salem Al Amry once how to get rid of depression and he said dhikr of Allah and knowing Allah.

do you guys think depression can be removed by following Islam? what if a person feels so depressed and hopeless that he can't bring himself to do anything and finds motivating himself to be the hardest thing ever.

I concur with what the Shaykh says. Dhikr cannot be emphasised enough. Along with dua.

However, a person needs conviction too. When he's making dua, he needs to have his attention toward Allah and sincerely ask for Allah's help and relief from sorrow. You need to think of Allah as listening to every word that you utter and accepting it all. You need certitude. Don't let duas be just a set of whispered words with no substance behind them.

There's plenty of duas that deal with relieving stress etc. Like this one, for example:

‘O Allaah, I am Your servant, son of Your servant, son of Your maidservant, my forelock is in Your hand, Your command over me is forever executed and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every name belonging to You which You name Yourself with, or revealed in Your Book, or You taught to any of Your creation, or You have preserved in the knowledge of the unseen with You, that You make the Qur’aan the life of my heart and the light of my breast, and a departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety.’

The Prophet SAW said about this dua:

It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no-one who is afflicted by distress and grief, and says: ‘Allaahumma inni ‘abduka ibn ‘abdika ibn amatija naasyati bi yadika, maada fiyya hukmuka, ‘adlun fiyya qadaa’uka. As’aluka bi kulli ismin huwa laka sammayta bihi nafsaka aw anzaltahu fi kitaabika aw ‘allamtahu ahadan min khalqika aw ista’tharta bihi fi ‘ilm il-ghayb ‘indaka an taj’al al-Qur’aana rabee’ qalbi wa noor sadri wa jalaa’ huzni wa dhihaab hammi,’ but Allaah will take away his distress and grief, and replace it with joy.” He was asked: “O Messenger of Allaah, should we learn this?” He said: “Of course; everyone who hears it should learn it.”

So, clearly. There are spiritual solutions for problems like depression.

In my own experience, I've found that if I make it a routine to do at least 20 mins worth of 'stock' duas (by this, I mean a good number of standard sunnah duas that you can find in booklets) every morning after Fajr and every evening after maghrib, I feel safe and protected from worldly and spiritual harm. Couple that with a personal dua that lasts 20 mins or so everyday asking Allah for help from everything.

If a person did this everyday, he would feel a sense of tawakul and trust in Allah arise inside him InshaAllah and whenever any sense of sorrow comes upon him, the first thought that would come to mind would be to seek help from Allah via dua and prayer. Pay careful attention to the meaning of the dua I posted: It says '...that You make the Qur’aan the life of my heart and the light of my breast, and a departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety...' Which implies that the solution for a depressed state of mind is to be found in the Quran.

“We sent down in the Quran that which is a cure and mercy for the faithful”. (17:82)

“Say: For those who have faith, it (Quran) is a guidance and healing; but as for those who are faithless, there is a deafness in their ears and it is lost to their sight”. (41:44)

 

[Salahudeen]

^when we talk about dhikr do you mean simply saying subhanallah, alhamdulilah and allah hu akbar aswell as other words of praise?

or does everything you mentioned above come under dhikr?

 

[Woodrow]

^ yeah, the doctor advised my mum a few years bacl to listen to music cos it lifts your mood. hmm interesting, I've noticed personally I always feel depressed in winter, I feel like I'm lost and all ways miserable, never talk or socialise, I literally hibernate in my house.

winter blues I think it's called. but depression is just a feeling isn't it, a feeling of sadness,despair and hopelessness. but it's hard to replace it with positive feelings :|

hmm I feel for those people who can never get out of depression mode, they must resort to pills eventually

winter blues (seasonal depression) is very real and affects all who live in areas that have long, cold, dreary winters. It is like living in a dark dungeon for 3-6 months out of the year. The best way to offset it is to take on an additional responsibility this time of years. Such as the caring for livestock, making it a point to make daily checks on the welfare of the disabled and elderly in the area, Going outside during the brightest time of the day, even if it is only for a few minutes.

Taking advantage of the bright, clear night skies and stepping outside some time each clear night to view the beauty of the stars. Starting a new relaxing hobby, such as wood working or even practicing calligraphy. Use the time of solitude to study the Qur'an, try to copy a few ayyats from the Qur'an in Arabic

The winter months are the best months for viewing the night skies, take up amateur astronomy and view the beauties of the universe that can only be seen this time of year.

 

[Alpha Dude]

or does everything you mentioned above come under dhikr?

Everything.

To be honest, I have a different take on depression than most people. It can be a sudden total loss of interest and motivation for the world and everything in it. I think that's good thing, in a way. For one thing, he's not wasting his time in futile, material indulgence like heedless people do.

If a person is in this state, he lets things happen and just tends to 'go with the flow' right? I mean, say a depressed person's walking in the street and somebody comes up and chucks some rubbish onto him. He'd just brush it off right, given his state of mind? I don't see any depressed person fighting or contesting it. He'd just be like 'yeah whatever' with a glum looking expression on his face, right?

In my opinion, depressed people are resigned people. It's almost as though they've submitted to fate. They let things happen - 'oh what they heck' to everything.

I think if a muslim person who was depressed were to utilise this feeling, he can become a very strong muslim. He can turn it around and assume that he is submitting to Allah's will for him. With this resigned submission, comes tawakul and Allah has said, for those who place their trust in him, Allah is sufficient for them.

Total submission to Allah's will and extreme tawakul is the behaviour characteristic of Prophets and the Sahaba may Allah be pleased with them all.

 

[جوري]

I think everyone got it correct here masha'Allah, it is a chemical imbalance but no one knows for sure what brings it on except in very specific cases-- so could be a spiritual reason behind the chemical imbalance. & Allah swt knows best..

 

[CosmicPathos]

Everything.

To be honest, I have a different take on depression than most people. It can be a sudden total loss of interest and motivation for the world and everything in it. I think that's good thing, in a way. For one thing, he's not wasting his time in futile, material indulgence like heedless people do.

If a person is in this state, he lets things happen and just tends to 'go with the flow' right? I mean, say a depressed person's walking in the street and somebody comes up and chucks some rubbish onto him. He'd just brush it off right, given his state of mind? I don't see any depressed person fighting or contesting it. He'd just be like 'yeah whatever' with a glum looking expression on his face, right?

In my opinion, depressed people are resigned people. It's almost as though they've submitted to fate. They let things happen - 'oh what they heck' to everything.

I think if a muslim person who was depressed were to utilise this feeling, he can become a very strong muslim. He can turn it around and assume that he is submitting to Allah's will for him. With this resigned submission, comes tawakul and Allah has said, for those who place their trust in him, Allah is sufficient for them.

Total submission to Allah's will and extreme tawakul is the behaviour characteristic of Prophets and the Sahaba may Allah be pleased with them all.

I agree with what you have to say here. The problem arises when this state of resignation starts interfering with those things which are considered necessary of living. For example job, relations with humans etc. On one extreme, this resignation can make one to escape the human behavior of societies and make him run to the forest where no human lives and where he can worship God. So one has to be careful in balancing these.

 

[gladTidings]

I do believe depression is a very real medical condition, however, I dont believe that there is any medicinal 'cure' available for depression. The underlying cause of depression, such as drugs, financial problems, death of relatives etc. should be treated. As muslims, accepting the decree of Allah s.w.t, recognising that He gives us that which is best for us and being grateful for what we do have is helpful.

I like shaykh Sulaiman Moola's talk on Depression vs. Contentment, it really helps to put things into perspective:

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYyWPpzt9b8

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxlb6mRbg0c&feature=channel

Ws.

 

[Asiyah3]

I think depression can be both spiritually and physically caused. To the spiritual cause divorce and loneliness are common examples. Physical causes are evident on adolescence/teenagers.

 

[aadil77]

I think depression gets triggered by certain reasons, I think for you it might be 'winter blues' for me sometimes it can be if I don't go out with mates enough.

Winter can be depressing but I wonder how people living in russia survive, its always grey there, I personally feel more depressed in summer because all the fitna around. Winter is great bruv :shade:, less fitna depending on how cold it is lol, you can get alot more done without feeling sweaty after walking for just 5 mins, football season etc etc

Just keep yourself occupied and you'll be alright, there's no need for pills.

 

[Mujahidah4Allah]

Everything.

To be honest, I have a different take on depression than most people. It can be a sudden total loss of interest and motivation for the world and everything in it. I think that's good thing, in a way. For one thing, he's not wasting his time in futile, material indulgence like heedless people do.

If a person is in this state, he lets things happen and just tends to 'go with the flow' right? I mean, say a depressed person's walking in the street and somebody comes up and chucks some rubbish onto him. He'd just brush it off right, given his state of mind? I don't see any depressed person fighting or contesting it. He'd just be like 'yeah whatever' with a glum looking expression on his face, right?

In my opinion, depressed people are resigned people. It's almost as though they've submitted to fate. They let things happen - 'oh what they heck' to everything.

agree but then say the persons attitude is 'yeah whatever' wouldn't that also show signs of carelessness, as if they've given up on the world e.g 'who cares if i had rubbish chucked at me, people treat me like rubbish everyday anyway'... = negative minded = needs to resolve this by finding out what his/her downfalls are, whats pulling them down, why the glum look? It good be generally the atmosphere they're in but for this attitude to occur i think its lack of self motivation, negative mindedness of a person and of course at time because that persons lost that link with Allah :arabic2: and needs to find a way to re connect... Wallahu Alam

wa/salam

 

[Salahudeen]

thanks for all your replies.

 

[tango92]

for the true believer, mental health is forever correlated with iman levels...

 

[CosmicPathos]

agree but then say the persons attitude is 'yeah whatever' wouldn't that also show signs of carelessness, as if they've given up on the world e.g 'who cares if i had rubbish chucked at me, people treat me like rubbish everyday anyway'... = negative minded = needs to resolve this by finding out what his/her downfalls are, whats pulling them down, why the glum look? It good be generally the atmosphere they're in but for this attitude to occur i think its lack of self motivation, negative mindedness of a person and of course at time because that persons lost that link with Allah :arabic2: and needs to find a way to re connect... Wallahu Alam

wa/salam

I disagree with this. Being glum is not bad. What the brother suggested for the resignation is a very good advice. You, basically, do not care about the world and are not involved in its pomp and show. That being said, this is a double edged sword and can make you adopt same attitude for religion: you dont care about praying and just live a "useless" life. With proper balance, a life of resignation is one which is very close to the life of Prophet Muhammad pbuh. Actually according to your advice, Prphet would have done self-analysis why people were throwing trash on him or stoning him? No. He did not.

The only problem is that a resignated life-style is not acceptable in the West and such a person who do not participate in life is considered very asocial and selfish. It was different in Medinan times.
Walahu aalam.

 

[gladTidings]

I disagree with this. Being glum is not bad. What the brother suggested for the resignation is a very good advice. You, basically, do not care about the world and are not involved in its pomp and show. That being said, this is a double edged sword and can make you adopt same attitude for religion: you dont care about praying and just live a "useless" life. With proper balance, a life of resignation is one which is very close to the life of Prophet Muhammad pbuh. Actually according to your advice, Prphet would have done self-analysis why people were throwing trash on him or stoning him? No. He did not.

The only problem is that a resignated life-style is not acceptable in the West and such a person who do not participate in life is considered very asocial and selfish. It was different in Medinan times.
Walahu aalam.

I dont think that the resignated life-style is completely accepted by Islam either. What if a man's depression leads him to totally withdrawing himself from others around him and neglecting his duties to provide for his family? Even if it leads him to devoting himself in worship. Im sorry if im going off topic but this came to mind:

In Islam work is given special importance to the extent that it is considered as an act of worship in itself. Although some people believe that they are not obliged to work because they dedicate themselves to worshiping God, this is actually a wrong perception of the concept of worship. The Muslim scholar Imam Al-Ghazali mentioned in his book Ihyaa’ `Ulum Ad-Deen (Revival of the Religious Sciences) that Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) once saw a man who had completely devoted himself to worship. When he asked him how he got his daily bread, the man replied that his brother, who worked, provided him with food. Jesus then told him, “That brother of yours is more religious than you are” (The Book of Provision, Chapter 1). Al-Ghazali also mentions the Prophet’s Companion `Umar ibn Al-Khattab, who used to stress this point further by telling people, “Never should anyone of you think that du`aa’ (supplication) for sustenance without work will avail him, for heaven never rains gold nor silver” (The Book of Provision, Chapter 1).

Read more: http://www.readingislam.com/servlet...nglish-Discover_Islam/DIELayout#ixzz0enCdgWcr

 

[CosmicPathos]

I dont think that the resignated life-style is completely accepted by Islam either. What if a man's depression leads him to totally withdrawing himself from others around him and neglecting his duties to provide for his family? Even if it leads him to devoting himself in worship. Im sorry if im going off topic but this came to mind:

In Islam work is given special importance to the extent that it is considered as an act of worship in itself. Although some people believe that they are not obliged to work because they dedicate themselves to worshiping God, this is actually a wrong perception of the concept of worship. The Muslim scholar Imam Al-Ghazali mentioned in his book Ihyaa’ `Ulum Ad-Deen (Revival of the Religious Sciences) that Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) once saw a man who had completely devoted himself to worship. When he asked him how he got his daily bread, the man replied that his brother, who worked, provided him with food. Jesus then told him, “That brother of yours is more religious than you are” (The Book of Provision, Chapter 1). Al-Ghazali also mentions the Prophet’s Companion `Umar ibn Al-Khattab, who used to stress this point further by telling people, “Never should anyone of you think that du`aa’ (supplication) for sustenance without work will avail him, for heaven never rains gold nor silver” (The Book of Provision, Chapter 1).

Read more: http://www.readingislam.com/servlet...nglish-Discover_Islam/DIELayout#ixzz0enCdgWcr

You are right. That is why such people who want to live a resigned life do not want to marry. They already have too much on their plate in the form of relations with parents, siblings and other relatives and hence they wanna avoid marriage. And as far as I know, if they are not married, they do not even need to earn money because they have no family to provide for! Its really beautiful. You live without any worries because you only have to feed yourself and couple of dates + water suffices each day.

 

[Woodrow]

You are right. That is why such people who want to live a resigned life do not want to marry. They already have too much on their plate in the form of relations with parents, siblings and other relatives and hence they wanna avoid marriage. And as far as I know, if they are not married, they do not even need to earn money because they have no family to provide for! Its really beautiful. You live without any worries because you only have to feed yourself and couple of dates + water suffices each day.

back in the 1950s in the era immediately preceding the Hippy era we were the Beatnik generation. Our attitude was to completely drop out of the responsibility of life. We had escaped from the responsibility of life and had given up all hope of a better future. we were the drop outs from life.

Very similar to what you just posted. Although we saw ourselves as being very benign and accepting of all things, we probably were the most self centered and selfish generation to come out of America.