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Overcome Depression & Negative Thoughts

by | Aug 31, 2019

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Everyone is fighting their own battle, whether mental depression, emotional or spiritual!

The most common question to psychiatrists these days is, “How to overcome depression?” First, in an utterly confusing world where stress has become the norm, negative thinking has become quite part of our daily routine. Hence, breaking through the negative cycle and overcoming depression can become challenging.

Stress and depression are being dealt with by different spiritual and medical methods, such as Electroconvulsive therapy is a psychiatric treatment and one of the most renowned therapy for people with depression. Symptoms of depression include many things, such as mood disorder, loss of interest, invaluable things, long-term thinking, feeling sad, and other mental illnesses of various ages of the group, whether they are older or adults. Meanwhile, physical symptoms can also be seen in a depressed person, e.g., changing medical conditions and health problems.

While we tend to shy from speaking our minds and sharing our mental and emotional disturbances, rest assured that everyone is fighting their battle, whether mental, emotional, or spiritual. There is absolutely nothing shameful about it. Suffering from depression or anxiety is a sickness that must be addressed, just like any other physical pain in your body.

There are several natural depressant treatments that you can do on your own to overcome depression and negative thoughts; as a result, if the depression persists, one should seek professional help to overcome depression.

Many scientific kinds of research are performed on depression; you can find them in medical publications and online. Today we will discuss the topic from an Islamic perspective on how to overcome depression.

Causes of depression

Being Distant When you turn away or get distant from God, you deprive your soul of its oxygen. Same as what happens to your body when you cease eating or drinking for a long time.

Your soul seeks to float when connected to its creator. Otherwise, it slowly suffocates, dims, and feels heavy, and no matter what else you do, you feel miserable.

وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَىٰ 

“And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind.”

 Surah Taha 20:124

  • Engrossed in Duniya(World)

Being so focused on Duniya (world) day and night burdens your heart, deprives you of sleep, and tires your body and soul, and is another factor that does not help to overcome depression. Hence, when we live on purpose and have a higher goal towards the Hereafter, God subjects the universe to our service to ease our affairs, and He belittles our day-to-day calamities. 

Anas bin Malik narrated that the Messenger of Allah(s.a.w) said:

“Whoever makes the Hereafter his goal, Allah makes his heart rich and organizes his affairs, and the world comes to him whether it wants to or not. And whoever makes the world his goal, Allah puts his poverty right before his eyes and disorganizes his affairs, and the world does not come to him except what has been decreed for him. “

  • Not realizing that it is all Written

All our matters have been written in the book of decrees; our health, wealth, status, etc.

مَا أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي أَنفُسِكُمْ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مِّن قَبْلِ أَن نَّبْرَأَهَا ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ 

No calamity occurs in the earth nor yourselves, but it is inscribed in the Book of Decrees before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allah.

لِّكَيْلَا تَأْسَوْا عَلَىٰ مَا فَاتَكُمْ وَلَا تَفْرَحُوا بِمَا آتَاكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ

So you may not grieve at things you fail to get, nor rejoice over which has been given to you. And Allah likes not prideful boasters.

(Al-Quran 57:22-23)

  • Relying on yourself

Relying only on ourselves and our abilities and making decisions independently is mentally hectic and draining. Therefore, we get to feel the entire burden weighing us down.

Quranic ways show us how to overcome depression.

There are different methods used to overcome depression and how to overcome anxiety. In this article, we will discuss natural cures that anyone can do independently to reduce negative thoughts and overcome depression; therefore, seeking professional help is essential if it persists.

How to start?

It all starts in the mind. The mindset is powerful. Hence, if we change our perspective, we’ll be able to shift significantly in our mood, health, and overall quality of life. And indeed, the best overcome is the Dhikr of Allah.

  • Believe In Allah Almighty

Why carry the burden of your world? When you can rely on your creator. Overthinking is painful, and it gets us into vicious circles. Not only does it makes it difficult to overcome depression, but it makes it worse.

We are a nation blessed with Tawakol (Reliance on Allah); this means we do istikhara, plan, take action, and ask God to guide us through the highs and lows.

‏‏وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ

And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him from where he does not expect. 

(Surah Al Talaq 65:2-3) 

  • Difficulty Lies Ahead

There will be challenges and trials for believers. Hardships are never to break us. They make us stronger, purify us and elevate our rank. Therefore, there is always victory in patience.

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنْفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ

And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,

ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَٰبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ

Who, when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allāh, and indeed to Him we will return.”

أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَٰتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ ۖ وَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُهْتَدُونَ

Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided.

(AlQuran 2:155-157)

  • Goodness In All Cases

قَالَ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ: عَجَباً لأمْرِ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِنَّ أَمْرَهُ كُلَّهُ لَهُ خَيْرٌ، وَلَيْسَ ذَلِكَ لأِحَدٍ إِلاَّ للْمُؤْمِن: إِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ سَرَّاءُ شَكَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْراً لَهُ، وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ صَبَرَ فَكَانَ خيْراً لَهُ 

The Messenger of Allah said, “How wonderful is the case of a believer; it is good for him in everything, and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah, which is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently, which is better for him”.

  • He Knows Us Better Than Ourselves

Allah knows what’s best for us. Even though we might not get what we asked for or end up somewhere different than where we wished, He knows what suits us. We might be attached to something or someone that could harm us or repelled by someone/something that might be of goodness to us.

He knows our ins and outs, our capabilities, and our endurance. He might behold some bounties until we’re ready for them or redirect our routes for a higher purpose.

Therefore, when we genuinely believe He is the All-knowing, we will not hold grudges towards our life; we will accept our circumstances and peacefully work to better them.

كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكْرَهُوا۟ شَيْـًٔا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تُحِبُّوا۟ شَيْـًٔا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing, and it is good for you, and perhaps you love a thing and bad for you. And Allah knows while you know not.

(AlQuran 2:216)

  • Allah is Enough

When we entirely depend on people, we’ll be eager to please them. We’ll remain anxious until we complete our affairs. We are suffering from inner struggles and anxiety. Our focus is on the creations, not the creator. Believe that Allah is sufficient to entrust Him with your affairs, and you’ll be granted peace in your life and can easily overcome depression.

وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ

And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him. 

ٍ(Surah Al Talaq:3)

  • Remember Him

Pray to Allah and remember him. Practice supplications and reading Quran so our hearts are then filled with light & peace and can overcome depression. 

الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ 

Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Without question, hearts are assured if you remember Allah.

Surah Ar-ra’ad

  • Be Mindful

Abu al-‘Abbas ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas(RA) reports:

“One day, I was riding (a horse/camel) behind the Prophet, peace, and blessings be upon him, when he said, ‘Young man, I will teach you some words. Be mindful of God, and He will take care of you. Be mindful of Him, and you shall find Him at your side. If you ask, ask of God.

If you need help, seek it from God. Know that if the whole world gathered together to help you, they would not be able to help you except if God had written so. And if the whole world were to gather together to harm you, they would not harm you except if God had written so. The pens have been lifted, and the pages are dry.'”

(Related by Tirmidhi)

Lastly, whenever you intend to take any new step, start a new phase, or begin your healing journey to overcome depression…

  • Ask Allah for help.

Remember this dua day and night to help overcome depression as taught by the Prophet (PBUH)

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ غَلَبَةِ الدَّيْنِ وَقَهْرِ الرِّجَالِ ‏‏ ‏

“O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from care and grief, I seek refuge in Thee from incapacity and slackness, I seek refuge in Thee from cowardice and niggardliness, and I seek in Thee from being overcome by debt and being put in subjection by men.” 

(Book 8, Hadith 140)

Finally, rest assured that you’re not alone whenever you’re going through a dark phase. Allah is Al Samii Al Aliim (All-hearing, All-knowing)

Whenever you feel there’s no way out, remember…

حسبي الله و نعم الوكيل

Sufficient for us is Allah, and he is the best disposal of affairs

Say it

Feel it

and live with it…

To better health, more peace, light, and blessing.

 

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