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Yours,
IOL Homepage Editor
Name
Basma
-
Profession
Question
Salam Dr. Maryam
I suffer from schizophrenia and I'm currently on medication. Should I change the medication timings? and what are your suggestions for me to spend a spiritual Ramadan as I don't want my mental illness to spoil my Ramadan.
thanks a lot
Answer
Wa Assalam Alaykum Basma,
Thank you for writing in with your very important question.
If you take medications regularly for a mental illness, changing the medication time is one thing you might be able to do, but you MUST talk to your prescribing psychiatrist to make sure it is safe. We are so close to Ramadan, that you might have to implement this plan next year, but do, get in to talk with your prescribing doctors as soon as possible, as you might be able to do this now.
You would not only be changing the time of medication, but also your daily routine, including your sleeping time in order to make this work. Your body will be changing its rhythms to accommodate the fast. Also, the one most important thing for people with schizophrenia, is sleep, so, if you miss a prayer, it's OK, you can make it up.
You have to be careful with the fasting, because you are resetting your body's rhythms, and your physiological chemistry is more sensitive to change than most people's. The most important thing is that we don't trigger an episode. If you only take medication one time daily, you might be able to take it much earlier, before the sun comes up. You would want to transition this over the period of a few days, and preferably over a couple of weeks... so talk to your doctor about this,and incorporate the change in daily routine and sleep patterns with the change of medication.
We are so close to Ramadan now, that you might be better off starting your fast late so that you can reset your body... You would gradually change the time of your medication by a half hour or hour at at time and gradually change your sleeping patterns. (When you stop the fast after Ramadan, you want to make a gradual change back to your usual routine as well) we are allowed to make up the days we miss for fasting...also, talk to a scholar about am modified fast, because you have a legitimate medical excuse...perhaps you can drink water, and take your medications as prescribe and eat only what you need to keep your mind and body in balance...again, your medical doctor can tell you what you must have in order to maintain health... This way, you can feel good about your prayers and in reading quaran.
To feel the benefits of Ramadan, you can listen to the Imam read the Quaran and pray with the community. Make sure you remind yourself daily how much Allah loves you an that Allah is your protector and you are very, very safe. If you do start hearing voices, or your sensory perception seems a little strange, call your doctor immediately, let him or her know if you have been trying to fast, and follow his or her recommendations even if it means breaking the fast. Allah is all Merciful, and fasting is only for those who are able to do it.
Most importantly, relax and enjoy this Ramadan, be open to receive the blessings of Allah.
Salaam
maryam
Name
ffggg
- India
Profession
student
Question
salam Dr.
How can I stop myself from feeling very dizzy when I fast if I have to travel a long distance each day for attending college?
Answer
Assalam Alaykum ffggg,
If you eat something before going to sleep so that you can sleep well, this will help. Also, eat breakfast before the sun rises, and drink more water than what seems normal for you. The first few days, you will feel dizzy if you are not used to fasting. So, prepare for that. If you can take a day off during the week to sleep, this will help a lot. Sleeping during the day helps to reset the body so it doesn't miss the food.
I prepared by shopping early, the less worries and work you have during this time the better. Those of us who work and have a lot of responsibilities often take on extra responsibilities at the Masjid, only to find ourselves very exhausted and unwell, so make sure you decrease your work not increase it.
Try to arrange your schedule to take a nap during the day if at all possible, even just 20 or 30 minutes will make a big difference. You are not going to be eating lunch anyway, so this is a good time to sleep, even if the only place you can sleep is in your car. You will probably feel fine in the morning, it is in the evening that you will feel weaker; Mentally prepare for this by knowing ahead of time and tell yourself it will pass, because it is only a few hours before you can eat. Also, take a small nap before you drive home.
To sum up:
1. Reduce your work load if you can
2. Buy your food for the month ahead of time so you don't have to worry about that
3. Before Ramadan, eat breakfast before the sun comes up and drink a lot of water, more than you think.
4. Take a nap during the day
5. Mentally prepare yourself for the weakness of evening time
6. Take a small nap before driving home...(go straight to the Masjid if you can...this will help you make it all the way through
In about three days, it will get easier... remind yourself of this.
Thank you so much for posting your question,
Salaam,
Maryam
Name
muslimah
- United States
Profession
Question
Salam Alaikum,
I wrote to you a couple of weeks ago; I am the lady with o.c.d. and bipolar disorder,and a serious physical illness with the difficult family situation. I mainly just wanted to say thank you for the time you took for your answer, in giving a lot of positive advice, and most importantly the kindness with which it was given. My trials continue, sometimes making life feel excruciatingly painful.I do still have hope that things can improve, even though just in the past couple of weeks since writing you there have been many incidents of things happening that have made things feel bleak, but I have a feeling inshAllah that things are going to get better soon, because I'm closer to getting a proper diagnosis for my physical ailment which looks like Addison's disease right now, and once that is under control, it'll be easier to work with a psychiatrist(I thought i had found a good doctor who turned out to be no help at all)to find the right medications, and also to just feel well enough so i don't have as much difficulty fulfilling spiritual obligations.Also my father who is a source of great support for me arrived recently from being abroad where he lives, so that he could help me. And whenever he's around the chaotic dysfunction that is my family life, goes down many notches, because clearly the rest of my family makes a concerted effort to not let him see how they really act when he's away(been abroad for long stretches of time for business).And also Ramadan always lifts my spirits. So anyway thanks again.
Answer
Wa Alaykum ASsalam Sister Muslimah,
Alhamduillah, I am happy you are finding the faith and strength to cope and that you have some support. Really getting the right diagnosis can be the most difficult part of improving wellness and well being in our lives. Please don't worry about getting everything in our practice right all the time... If you read the Quaran, for pleasure, in a relaxed state, you will "hear" what it has to say. It is filled with a solution for every situation and complete Mercy. I confess I have not memorized it, and I often read and forget to write down the verse...(I wish I would write down those important verses!)... I was reading yesterday and found a passage about being forgiven all our sins, even when our prayers are not perfect... it referred to a situation where a person is unable to perform perfectly due to circumstances, yet worked very hard, was sincere, and had many, many optional prayers, and because of this, all of his sins were forgiven. I don't know if this helps, but when I read your post, I thought of it.
I pray you accept the Ramadan as a gift of Mercy from Allah to you and you relax, and read the Quaran, not with a feeling of obligation, but try to relax and enjoy it, and do your best to pray without being hard on yourself...the prayers were given to us... I hope you will have time to enjoy becoming quiet inside and allow physical and emotional healing. It is in this place that you will find some peace for yourself. Ramadan lifts my spirits too.
I truly enjoy hearing from you. I hope to hear soon, I would like to hear how your treatment for the Addison's disease is coming along, and if you are getting medical and psychological help for your worries that are likely being aggravated by this condition. Please write in soon.
Salaam,
Maryam
Name
Neela
- Canada
Profession
Health
Question
I have a friend who is a bit lost...How does a person who was once observant and pious recapture the spirit of Islam within them? What opportunities are there in Ramadan to relieve a sense of hopelessness and lack of motivation?
Answer
ASsalam Alaykum Neela,
Thank you for being a good friend. This is what makes our Ummah strong. Life has its ups and downs, and sometimes our thoughts and behaviors follow those ups and downs. It is better when our Iman is stronger than life's ups and downs...but we are human. The best thing you can do for you friend is be observant and pious and express the spirit of Islam yourself. Be kind and patient with your friend, and spare the reprimands. Rather, engage your friend in mindful conversations about Islam, ask your friend questions (your friend probably has a lot of knowledge if he/she has been practicing) also, invite, invite, invite your friend to the Masjid, to special events, and to just have tea with you and to pray. Connect with our friend and encourage him or her to open up. Often there are life problem that have overwhelmed us, and this can overcome our minds and make us forget about our practice, talking about our problem with a friend, and working though them can free us so that we can once again become aware of our love of Allah and our desire to live the life of Islam. Ramadan is the perfect time to re-connect to hope, it is all about hope, and Mercy and Forgiveness... usually whatever our problem is, art of it is that we either harbor some hurt or anger in our heart or we feel guilty about something.. this can make us feel frozen, and this is the feeling that looks like a lack of motivation. It is really a lost, or frozen state of being. The more we try to do what we are supposed to do, the more frozen we become. What is nice about Ramadan, is we can almost forget about everything else, and just put Quaran and Prayer first... that is all we have to think about... Being with other Muslims, reading the Quaran, and praying, and shifting the focus on that renews the spirit and adjusts the soul and this restores hope. Through this process we are able to revolve conflicts inside ourselves, our mind has an opportunity to rest and allow our heart to connect with Allah, in that place you will feel Allah's love and with that love you will be forgiven and you will naturally forgive others... it is a shortcut, if you will to physical, mental, psychological, emotional, and spiritual health...the outcome should be a sense of peace, happiness, and readiness for the future.
Salaam,
Maryam
Name
Mohammed
-
Profession
Question
Assalaamalaikum Dr.
I am single guy in my mid-20s; Last Ramadan, I used to get tired especially during the night that I could not pray Taraweeh completely; I work on the computer whole day while fasting, and did eat well after Iftaar- yet I felt very tired and sleepy; I am scared how I will manage this year; May Allah help me and all of us. Do you have any suggestions? My sleep pattern and everything else will change.
Answer
Wa Alaykum Assalam Mohammed,
Thank you for posting such an important question.
My suggestion to you is to start preparing for the entire Taraweeh to be completed by you next year. I say this because you really should position yourself so that you can sleep during the day and feel well for this. This Ramadan, you have enough to do the very best you can. You will be changing your sleeping patterns so that you go to bed after the Isha prayers and breaking the fast. You need 5 to 6 hours of sleep if you are working during the day along with naps. So, you will want to start this now. You will want to make up for lost sleep on your days off, and you can probably stay up all night for one day a week or so, as you are young and strong. If you do not sleep, but your body is at rest, this is OK. Have water by your bedside and eat breakfast in the night before the sunrise. You should be able to pray some prayers before fajr if you get your rest. Get a CD of the Quaran and play it whenever you can and this will help you stay focused if you do not have time to read.
Use this time to strengthen your Iman and get yourself used to the practice and prepare for next Ramadan. To really prepare for the most benefit from Ramadan, one should prepare a year ahead of time. Especially if they must work. You start by letting your employer know now, the dates of next Ramadan and ask for those date to be set aside, as many days as possible so that you have have them off and sleep during the day between fajr and dhuhor. You will be sacrificing your vacation for this, which is good for you especially when you are young. Now that you know this is what you want, and you desire to have this beautiful and intense spiritual experience, use this Ramadan to prepare for next Ramadan, and keep this as your goal all year long. For this Ramadan, do as much as you can without hurting your work performance. (also, make sure you rest your eyes after work for about 30 minutes as they are tired from straying at the computer, you will be surprised how must is just visual fatigue)
Salaam,
Maryam
Name
Mina
- Bangladesh
Profession
Question
Assalamoalaikoum
My question is about how to make children realize the beauty of Ramadan? As a mother, I try to show them Ramadan is about thinking of Allah more and those who have less than us. I try to show them Ramadan is also a month of simplicity. It is difficult to do so as for most people, this holy month involves supplementary hours in the kitchen. Of course, children might get contradictory messages. On the one hand, there is simplicity which I am trying to implement and on the other lavishness.
Jazakallah
Answer
Wa Assalam Alaykum Mina,
I agree with the difficulty of contradictions. But I think we can find a balance between the lavishness that comes from all the fancy food that we eat because we are fasting.... As a revert, I got confused about this myself, and during my first Ramadan, I wondered how this could be called a fast.
If at all possible, do something very simple...walk and talk with your children. Think of a favorite Sura or Hadith and ask your children to walk with you as you begin to talk about what the verses mean, asking them questions about what they mean to them. Point out the beauty of Allah's creation, point to the trees and the nature around you... take time to breathe... be simple yourself. I agree that the children are at risk of getting contradictory messages, but if they are old enough to understand, you can explain that the lavishness is culture, and you want to simply honor your fellow Muslims by honoring their tradition as this fosters unity and strengthens the Ummah, while the food seems lavish, it is a simple act of love that you bring to the Ummah... keep them close and teach them simplicity of mind.
Salaam,
Maryam
Name
Ahmed
- Nigeria
Profession
privte business
Question
Salam Dr.,
What are essential things do we need to prepare mentally for Ramadan?
Answer
Assalam Alaykum Brother Ahmed,
The most important thing to remember is to begin to make a mental and psychological shift of focus now, from the drama of this world to the spiritual experience that you are hoping to be blessed with. Start today to let go and wind down the business and worries of relationship problems, work issues, goals, etc... it is a time to "stop the world" as much as you can... There is another seasong for achievement, and worries, and things of this world...Ramadan is a time to mentally break away from all of that and shift your focus on your spiritual growth. To prepare your mind so that it can focus in a couple of days, begin now to quiet it... wrap up all your projects, what you have not completed, get extensions if you can... get your work load down to a minimum, and put your unresolved issues on hold... begin today to take your unresolved emotional issues and prepare them for Ramadan, in the sense that you will be giving them to Allah for healing, do this for your practical problems as well. One way to do this is to get a journal and write down all that weighs heavy on your heart and mind, and all the practical issues that worry you. You are not going to fix them during Ramadan, rather you are going to present these to Allah and ask for healing and miracles. If you do this, then you will be setting the stage for Ramadan to work through you and open you up to receive the Blessings that are waiting for you.
SHIFT THE FOCUS
Salaam,
Maryam
Name
Faiza
- United Arab Emirates
Profession
Question
Salam Alaikom,
How can we ensure that we disconnect from the problem of this world and our usual concerns and our worries during this month...
Thank you
Answer
ASsalam Alaykum Faiza,
Ramadan and the practices we participate in are designed to do exactly that. If you take one month to focus on your prayers, listen to the whole Quaran, and fast, this will help you leave "the world" and regenerate your spirit. Try to arrange your day so that you can go to your community Masjid and enjoy the experience with your community. Fasting is especially regenerating for the soul.
Salaam,
Maryam
Name
Anisa
-
Profession
Question
Every year I intend to go to the mosque at night and pray there the taraweeh prayers, but when Ramadan is there, and the evenings are there, I cant´t get myself to do this. You have any tips for me to be stronger and face this spiritual challenge?
Answer
Assalam Alaykum Anisa,
Thank you so much for submitting this question:
If you are working during the day, it can be more difficult. But you can make it happen by taking a nap before you go to the Masjed. However, it is better to get at least 5 hours of sleep at night if you cannot sleep during the day, and to make up your sleep on the weekends. Drink a lot of water just before sunrise as well so you don't get dehydrated.
The best way to spend Ramadan, is to arrange to have as many days off from work during this month as you can get. You probably have to arrange this with your employer almost a year ahead of time, and save all your vacation time to do it. This is really worth it if you want the reap the benefits of praying through the night and reading the entire Quaran. You can sleep during the day between fajr and Dhuhor. If you cannot do this this year, then go easy on yourself, and get used to the practices, the prayer and the fasting... prepare for an even more intense spiritual experience next year... meanwhile, listen to the Quaran, there is a site here on IOL, and you can also purchase tapes or CDs... this way, you can hear it in its entirety.
