The session has just started. Please feel free to join and submit your questions now.
After the session has ended, you can view the whole dialogue by clicking Recent Sessions, or the Archive.
Yours,
Health and Science Editor
Name
Jasmine
- Australia
Profession
Question
Salam to you,
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my question.
Ive been suffering from depression for the last 2 years... at the beginning i thought it would go away on its own. It wasnt until i saw a psychologist about 1 year ago that i was told that i had been suffering from Post traumatic stress syndrome.... but i dont feel that what he based his assumption is something i believe could be affecting me.
What is your advice? since i last saw the psychologist i got engaged but that ended which has been causing me even more distress... alot more than something like this would normally affect me...
im soooo sick of feeling this way... what advice can you give me to help reduce this feeling of depression....
Answer
Asalaam ALikum Jasamine,
May Allah subhanatallah give you shifa (cure). All health and well being is in His hands and He is the best healer.
I believe your question is two fold:
1) Is your psychologist the correct one for you and
2) What steps can you take to regain your health.
First off, is the psychologist you consulted with a Muslim? This will have a huge impact on the way that they deal with you. Also, if he/she is, do they have a proper understanding of the role of Islam in psychology? When it comes to Muslims and Islam, there are many assumptions that may taint a doctor/patient relationship. My husband is a psychologist, so I am well aware of these issues.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is experienced by many people and you do not have to have experienced a war to feel its affects. If you feel like you would like a second opinion, you should seek one.
Secondly, depression can stem from many organic causes, emotional stress, poor diet or hormonal imbalance, to name a few. These all will alter brain chemistry and this is where a one-size-fits all approach to depression emerges. Usually drugs are prescribed, sometimes with good effects, but always with side effects. To be on the safe side, you do want to rule out brain tumors or a blood clot.
Depression is typically accompanied by an addiction, like to sugar or caffeine, and the symptoms are made worse after an hour to 24 hours of consumption. This is known as self medication. These two foods profoundly alter brain chemistry. Depression reacts positively to a change in diet. Julia Ross' book "The Mood Cure," is an excellent start. I have taken classes and recommend her book as well as "Potatoes not Prozac" by Kathleen DesMaisons.
Depression is multidimensional and I do not recommend herbs or specific supplements (other than multi vitamins) in such an informal setting because I do not know if the person is taking medications or if what I recommend is for them. We are talking about substances that alter your mind here.
If you feel you eat a lot of sugar, bread, pasta, or caffeine, removing them from your diet can help. A multi vitamin that is specific for stress may also be useful.
Everyone I have worked with has required some form of counseling and I believe that is normal. Most of us need to talk to someone. It is healthy. Keeping all of these emotions inside is not a healthy thing. I developed my own form of body work to work with releasing emotional stress from the body, because I also noticed that the food, supplements and counseling did not solve this issue and that they also needed some form of body work.
You may also want to go to your OBGYN and ask for a saliva test to check your adrenals and estrogen levels.
If you have further questions on natural approaches or seeking a psychologist that is right for you, please contact me at anisa@womenshealingcircle.org or at www.womenshealingcircle.org
Name
Selma
-
Profession
Question
Why do we find nervous children although they have nothing to worry about?
Answer
Asalaam Alikum Sister Selma,
Children have many things to feel nervous about and suffer from stress more than adults. Unlike adults, they do not have any life experience to reflect back on and many times they do not have the verbal sophistication to express what they feel, so they end up acting out.
Today, parents and society place unreasonable demands on children with little regard if the child is developmentally ready for such steps, things like reading by age 5, testing in kindergarten, multiple after school activities, pre algebra before age 12 and the list goes on and on. What makes this worse is that there is huge demand on children with little to no support.
Most children's diets are also a problem and a source of stress, because they tend to be poor and consist of soda, simple carbohydrates and candy, essentially sugar. So not only are children asked to perform to an exaggerated level, they are not even provided with basic dietary needs to combat stress.
There is very little time for outside play or constructive play. T.V. and video games are the leisure activities, but do not supply the stress release provided by a physical activity.
Communication between families also tends to be poor, so children often will not approach their parents, who are usually stressed out themselves, to help them with problem. Typically there is also no extended family support or community support, so the child is left to find their own way to deal with an overwhelming sense of doom. Everything seems "bigger and badder" to a child.
Teenagers often have it worst because they not only have no guidance, they also have raging hormones, an adult body with a child's brain and have even more pressure to get into college.
Then to add insult to injury, many people think children have nothing to worry about, so the child will feel ashamed and not ask for help.
It is sad to see that as a world community, humans are failing their children.
Name
muslilmah1
-
Profession
Question
Assalamualaikum,
Sometimes i feel really depressed. i dont know the real reason for it. i am full of negative feelings..sometimes i feel a heart ache as if someone hurt me when nobody has hurt me. also when am in my menses i feel really frustrated and irritated..any solution for this?
Answer
Asalaam Alikum Sister,
This sounds like hormonal imbalance along with a serotonin deficiency.
Serotonin is a hormone that is called the "happy hormone" because it makes us happy. The pathway to make serotonin also involves vitamin D. Many Muslim women are Vitamin D deficient because they cover from head to toe. The main source of Vitamin D is the sun. Fish oils and fish also provide D. The vitamin D found in milk is usually synthetic and toxic, so the body can not use it. People with serotonin deficiency usually suffer from:
1- Depression (especially in the summer)
2- Addiction (this can also be food addictions like, sugar, bread and caffeine)
3- Mood Swings
Many serotonin deficient people feel sad at sunset, when serotonin production is low.
Foods rich in serotonin or its precursors SAM-e and tryptophan are:
- Fish
- Poultry
- Eggs
- Dairy
- Lamb Beef
(essentially protein)
- Coconut oil
- Omega 3 oils
Since your menstrual cycle is involved, there may also be additional hormone imbalances - thyroid, estrogen, progesterone, insulin and adrenals are all possibilities.
Adrenals, progesterone and estrogen can be tested with a saliva test. Insulin with a blood sugar test and thyroid is a bit more complicated. My website explains more about this at www.womenshealingcircle.org
Please refer to my past Live Dialogues on thyroid disorders and menstrual abnormalities.
You can also contact me at anisa@womenshealingcircle.org
Name
Deena
-
Profession
Question
My mother is 60 years now. I feel her always nervous. Is there a natural herb or way to help her??
Answer
Asalaam Alikum Sister,
One of my greatest pleasures is in working with the elderly. When recommending herbs and supplements to them it is a very delicate business because of their age and possible drug interaction. So, always check with your doctor before you try any herbs or supplements.
Many elders suffer from nutrient deficiencies that sometimes are life long. Low protein diets can also cause depression or anxiety. Please see my article on the topic:
She may also feel like she has nothing to do, so that must also be looked at.
This is the recipe for my Flower Relaxing Tea:
- 3 part oats (not oatmeal, but the milky green tops)
- 2 part chamomile
- 1 part lavender flowers
- 1 part dry lemon balm leaves
Combine all the ingrediance and store in an air tight container away from the sun. It should keep for 6 months if the ingrediance were freshly dried herb. These herbs can be ordered online worldwide at; http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/
Use two teaspoons to 8 oz of hot water. Pour the water over the tea and let seep for 15-30 minutes, covered. Enjoy 2-3 cups a day.
If this does not help, you will need to consult with someone who will work with your mother to find the root cause.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Question
Pregnant and breastfeeding women usually experience depression. Can this affect their babies? And what would you advise them to do?
Answer
Postpartum depression is not known to have a physical effect on the baby and is caused by a hormonal imbalance. If the mother is hypothyroid and this is the cause of depression, it would be good to have the baby's thyroid levels checked.
Postpartum depression is typically transient and goes away after a few months. It is important to share with your family, friends and health care provider that you are suffering from depression. They can offer help, support and solutions.
A diet that avoids stimulating estrogen production, like organic, fresh, whole grain and plenty of fruits and vegetables and water will also help. Coconut oil helps pull excess estrogen from the body and will also help. 3-4 tablespoons of organic, unrefined oil a day is good. Also avoid plastics and soy foods.
If the depression lingers, or there are suicidal thoughts, hallucinations, overwhelming feelings that the baby will die, inability to feel extremities or tingling in extremities, this is potentially a very serious problem and requires medical attention.
Where the child may be affected is in the long term. A study found that children of depressed mothers grow up to be depressed themselves. So it is important to seek help, if not for yourself, then for your child.
