The session has just started. Please feel free to join us with your questions.
After the session has ended you will find the complete dialogue in the 'recent sessions' list.
Yours,
Islamonline Live Dialogue Editing Desk
Name
Laila
-
Profession
Question
This may seem a strange question, but i was wondering if some of the actions i do are considered paranoia. For example, when i close my room door i get the feeling that i haven't closed i properly and i return to close it harder. I can repeat this action two or three times. Even though each time i return to close the door i find that i had closed it just fine before. i don't know why i do this.
Is this a form of paranoia?
Answer
NO! This may be a part of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). So, I think it's crucial to see a psychiatrist as soon as possible, taking into consideration that OCD now is a well-known and curable disease, if it is actually there.
Name
Areen
-
Profession
Question
Is anorexia nervosa considered a psychiatric problem or do i just need to go to a doctor specialized in GIT problems?
Answer
Anorexia nervosa is one of the eating disorders and eating disorders are part of psychiatric problems.
Treatment includes medication in the form of anti-depressants and anxioletics (anti-anxiety drugs). Plus there is a need for psychotherapy, both behavioral and cognitive.
Name
Tamer
-
Profession
Question
Is obsession curable? How do i stop myself from becoming obssesed with anything?
Answer
We have to differentiate here between obsessive personality and OCD. Simply, in the case of an obsessive personality, the person is in general obsessive about many issues. However, in OCD, the person is obsessed with one particular issue.
Generally speaking, OCD is more curable. In both cases, seeking psychiatric advice is essential.
Name
Shek
-
Profession
Question
is there a way to prevent senility?
Answer
Unfortunately no. There is no way to prevent senility.
Name
Karim
-
Profession
Question
I have a lot of sleeping disturbances which has a negative effect on my life. I tend to be irritable at work due to the lack of sleep. what does this come from and are sleeping pills the only solution to this problem?
Answer
Sleeping disturbances may come from several causes. Some are organic and some are psychological.
Organic causes include hormonal disturbances, metabolic disturbances, etc.
Psychological causes include depression, stress, mania, etc.
Sleeping pills (Narcotics) may help in solving the problem but proper investigations and diagnosis are needed.
Name
Tracy
-
Profession
Question
I am fifteen years old and still afraid of the dark, is this normal?
Answer
It depends on whether this fear prevents you from acting well in your life activities, or it is only there without fundamental effects on it. If this fear does have an affect on your daily activities, please do visit a psychiatrist.
Name
C.M
-
Profession
Question
How do i reduce or completely get rid of anxiety during my exams? It makes me so weared out and tired being so stressed, is there a solution?
Answer
Coping with stress is one of the most important challenges that face modern society today because of this "MODERN" style of life. During exams and even before and after, we must learn how to cope with life's stresses. This includes many techniques and medications may also be needed.
You can find thousands of links online if you search with "coping with stress", or "relaxation techniques".
One of the most simple relaxation techniques is to pray slowly and piously, feeling every word and meaning, concentrating on relaxing our body, organ by organ.
Name
Sohaila
- Australia
Profession
Question
Assalamu alaikum. Dear Doctor,
I've always been confused about the difference between normal depression that isn't considered a disease, and clinical depression. How do I know when I should visit a doctor if I'm depressed?
Answer
A good question, Sohaila. One of the criteria to differentiate between what lies in the normal spectrum of depressed moods and depression as a disease is the lack of function in different human activities, such as work, social relations and organic dysfunctioning such as sleep disturbances and loss of appetite.
Another criterion is the presence of certain "causes" that result in a normal mood change, whereas clinical depression usually comes without such prodromal causes.
Name
Shama
- Pakistan
Profession
Question
Salam Doctor,
I have a question. One of my friends goes through cycles of severe depression and severe euphoria. I know that she needs to see a doctor, but I don't know how to go about it. Should I forcefully take her to a mental hospital? I doubt that if I told her that she was mentally ill that she would go to a doctor of her own free will. What is the solution in this case?
Jazak Allah
Answer
For you as a friend, it may be improper to force a friend to do something. I think talking to her parents/relatives may be the first step you should take. Again I want to seek your attention towards the differentiation between what could be considered as normal-average and real disease.
Name
Muslimah
-
Profession
Question
asalamu alaykum
I am studying for my post graduation but just can not concentrate on my studies due to some domestic problem. It keeps on coming to my mind again and again and it makes me hurt and angry and all this is badly affecting my studies and personality. Can you please help me with some good suggestion/ any special excercise/ any simple but effective remedy.
Jazak ALLAH khairan
Answer
Unfortunately, you didn't mention where are you living. That's to say, are you far from your original country? Or are you still living with your family, or what?
Anyway, a strong supportive social network could help you a lot. Some concentration and relaxation techniques are also needed. Dealing with your "domestic problem" is a must. As usual you may need psychiatric advice.
We have already mentioned an example of relaxation techniques. About concentration, we can use the same technique but with focusing on concentration this time in what we are saying and doing.
Name
merriam
-
Profession
Question
Can you please elaborate on what is OCD?
Answer
Obsessive compulsive disorder is one of the most spreading psychiatric diseases. The main core is the presence of a silly, bizarre, repetitive idea that always succeeds to influence the main stream of thought.
It may include a genetic cause and it may not. With proper early diagnosis and with adequate medication there are very good curative results.
Name
NN
-
Profession
Doctor
Question
Asalamu Alaykum
Sir my brother aged 35 is suffering from Bipolar disorder. It was diagnosed in 1997. He is under treatment but the diease is affecting him badly as regards his job and his interaction with people(at times). Do you know of any permanent cure or any useful suggestions. Should he marry or not and what are the percentage of his children being affected? Lastly does this disease run in families? If possible do recommend any useful articles/website. Sorry i asked too many questions at a time.
Thanks.
Answer
As usual, the net includes a lot of material about bipolar disorders.
This disease runs in families, and the incidence of being affected with the disease depends on the degree it is present in both sides of the family.
The same applies to the forthcoming generation.
Whether or not the person marries is up to him/her and his/her chosen partner.
Again with proper diagnosis and proper and adequate treatment, taking into consideration the importance of completing the full course of treatment, the results become very good. New medications now available on the market give very good curative results for bipolar patients.
Name
Male
-
Profession
Question
Can you please explain to me why our minds sometimes keep having the same thought over and over again, without you being able to just stop thinking about it. Eg. isn't haram to think bad thought about someone or even think something blasfemic even if you didn't mean to say it because your brain/mind keep on thinking this thing. Is this OCD? Are we responsible as moslems for the things we think even if we didn't mean to think these bad things? Last, how can you heal this "disorder". Jazaakum Allahu khairan.
Answer
It seems to me that OCD is the disease of this age.
We answered previously several questions related to OCD. But it is important to add that we are as humans not responsible for the things we only think, even if we mean to think them. God only holds us responsible for our actions, and even bad actions are forgiven if we repent for them.
Thanks to God!
Name
Zeid
-
Profession
Question
I have severe depression due to some family problems and the problems don't look like they will be solved in the near future. How can I overcome this problem without relying on antidepressants? Are there any natural cures or any kinds of meditations that could help get out of this pessimism and depression?
Answer
As mentioned before:
A good, strong, intact social network.
A good training to cope with stresses.
A shortcut is proper psychiatric advice when it's needed rather than seeking advice from where it can't be obtained.
Giving your life proper meaning and/or having clear target(s) in your life helps a lot.
Name
Chris
-
Profession
Question
Can compulsive lying be treated? I have a friend that lies so much it is not normal at all. She even lies about things that are not worth lying about. What makes a person do things like that? I have heard that people can be compulsive stealers even though they have a lot of money. Are they born with these disorders or is it apart of their upbringing?
Answer
Thank you for your concerns about your friend. People, all of them, lie sometimes. To describe this as a disease is something else. They usually lie to gain something or get rid of something.
Nobody is born with a distorted behavior. And any behavior could be changed by training/treatment.
Name
Reem
-
Profession
Question
One of my relatives has a really strange habit. She loves the color red. She died her hair red, she wears clothes with red designs or different shades of red and when we went to a pharmacy to buy some over-the-counter burn ointment and she asked the pharmacist for red ointment! What does this mean?
Answer
If this red-madness does affect her life activities, we can consider it a disease. Otherwise it's a free choice!
Name
Uzair
- Pakistan
Profession
Student
Question
At times I feel very lonely as a result of which I tend to masturbate just to come out of that "lonely state" which I find extremely disgusting. I don't why do I resort to masturbation whenever I feel lonely and left out.
Kindly suggest a solution.
Answer
DON'T BE LONELY! This is my first suggestion. Start to scan your social network and you will find some to start with strengthening your relations with them.
Start to regain a hobby or an old interest of yours. This will give you a way to new people and friends.
Start to visit the nearest mosque regularly and talk to brothers there who look like you, i.e. same age and relevant education and life conditions.
But, as you know, you masturbate because of many causes. Each cause needs a plan to deal with it. Being in an active group is an important part of the solution, but it is not the whole solution.
Please refer to our 'Cybercounselor' and Fatwa pages for more information on how to deal with masturbation.
Name
Worried one
-
Profession
Student
Question
I'm worried that I have this tendency to watch pornography. Is there any way to stop it? Should i visit a psychiatrist?
Answer
I think all people have the tendency to do wrong things and the question is how they deal with such "tendencies".
I think I can recommend the same suggestions I gave regarding masturbation.
If you could deal with the issue yourself it's ok. And if not, you should visit a psychiatrist.
Name
Rawan
-
Profession
Question
I have read a lot about schizophrenia. Is this a genetic disease or do you acquire it along the years? Can we prevent this disease, or is it inevitable that a person gets it if it is in their genes? Why has its incidence increased lately? Does it have to do with environmental factors like pollution or does it have to do with psychological pressures that are now present in the world? Is it more common in the developed world or the developing world, meaning does being poor have to do with its incidence? How can we reduce its occurance?
Answer
Sister Rawan,
Assalamu alaikum. Please use the web:
www.google.com to search sites about schizophrenia. By the way, the incidence has remained almost constant all over the world for a long time. And it is around one percent of the general population.
Name
Mera
-
Profession
Question
Do you believe that religion can solve all psychological problems?
Answer
Welcome Mera.
I'm happy here that I am with you all because I am used to interacting with Arabic speaking visitors.
It depends here what do you mean by religion? Because I think it's a part of "religion" to take the proper treatment when it's needed whatever the therapy is.
Name
sharif
-
Profession
Question
Does fasting encourage normal psychological behaviour?
Meaning, can depriving the body from food effect your mental health?
Answer
Sharif, kull sanah wanta tayeb.
There is nothing called "normal" psychological behavior, but there is average or a range of normal behaviors.
The lack of glucose and other nutrients affects behavior in a way or another for some people. This change stays in the normal range for others it's not. Remember that in some diseases, fasting is not encouraged or even prohibited if it will harm a certain person psychologically or physically.
On another level, fasting in Ramadan is the most important training course to strengthen the will, which is the corner-stone in any psychotherapy.
