thank you for taking the time to reply, Sister. one of the problems with treatment for depression, esp. for reverts or people close to Islam, is that they try to remember "happy things" in order to pull out of "nosedive" situations." Music is especially used. [if they were born Muslim, then Qur'an might be a more natural choice as they have memories of it.] Comedies also, laughing is a huge help. VERY few tunes or movies that a revert or non-Muslim favor are 100% halal in content, far from it some times. it DOES make for some awkward conversations as i try to explain why certain stuff is offensive and i let some stuff slide because she feels what she wants is "normal."
i really appreciated your comment on Muslim men in a previous post about how they wouldn't accept things about their wives that they have, in fact, done themselves. it's sad though, women are not private possessions. they are human beings and a great gift from Allah. that makes it hurtful and unjust to see the way victims of rape are treated.
Indeed brother Yusef's story is truly a touching and beautiful story. As for the treatment, I haven't gone to treatment. When I was raped I hid everything for a while, than decided to take it to court as I didn't want any girl to hurt the way I did...
I didn't go to treatment as I felt I would be weak, I know I needed it. But I just didn't want to come home from it having my family think I am crazy. I was really young and honestly when I think back, I know I would have been so much better taken treatment I probably wouldn't have made those mistakes...
that is why i took the time to post. i have learned alot from my wife and i recognized the pattern. you need to restore your high self esteem, it as taken from you. it shapes alot of your actions and reactions. sometimes ptsd doesn't go away, if you still have it treatment might be invaluable.
For me I would wake up every morning just wishing I would be someone else, and even days I would wish I were dead. It was a brutal assault and I was left with injustice even though I took it to court, when that happened I lost it. I lost faith, I lost myself. I felt the rape killed me yet my heart was still beating, and it took more than 6 years to accept it.. yet I didn't have faith nor any self esteem. So I guess with the marriage question I am still lost of esteem considering my past and the mistakes that came along.
my heart withers when i read these words, i know many women who share your situation. none of us can say, "i know how you feel." what happened wasn't your fault or your doing, yet people don't understand. i cannot emphasize enough how important it is for you to find a husband that will be supportive of you. it is not too late to get help, my wife said yesterday that mid 20's is a time when many depression issues come to their strongest. work on your mental health and your Deen.
And yes I would always tell anyone who is going through hardships, to take apart in treatment; especially one that has activities like journal, and arts and crafts, because I know how hard it is to wake up every morning with the aches in your heart more than ever.
remember to include yourself in this advise. as you learn how to deal with your issues, you can really benefit others. have you ever listened to Qari Haroon Baqai? check him out:
http://www.kalamullah.com/haroon-baqai.html
Alhamdulillah!
Imam Ahmad reported that Anas narrated that Allah's Messenger said:
«قَالَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ، إِنْ ذَكَرْتَنِي فِي نَفْسِكَ ذَكَرْتُك فِي نَفْسِي، إِنْ ذَكَرْتَنِي فِي مَلَإٍ ذكَرْتُكَ فِي مَلَإٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ أَوْ قَالَ: فِي مَلَإٍ خَيْرٍ مِنْهُ وَإِنْ دَنَوْتَ مِنِّي شِبْرًا دَنَوْتُ مِنْكَ ذِرَاعًا، وَإِنْ دَنَوْتَ مِنِّي ذِرَاعًا دَنَوْتُ مِنْكَ بَاعًا، وَإنْ أَتَيْتَنِي تَمْشِي أَتَيْتُكَ هَرْوَلَة»
(Allah the Exalted said, `O son of Adam! If you mention Me to yourself, I will mention you to Myself. If you mention Me in a gathering, I will mention you in a gathering of the angels (or said in a better gathering). If you draw closer to Me by a hand span, I will draw closer to you by forearm's length. If you draw closer to Me by a forearm's length, I will draw closer to you by an arm's length. And if you come to Me walking, I will come to you running).
yusuf