By Huma Rasuly
So often we find ourselves at war with ourselves; much like the tides of the ocean, constantly crashing against itself, beating itself over matters which are out of its control. The great difference between the oceans and humans in this regard is that on the surface, it is what it is, at war with itself; but deep down, right at the heart of the sea, there is serenity and harmony, unmatched by anything else. With humans, it’s the exact opposite. On the surface, most people seem calm and collected, but nobody knows of the reality of the state of their sanity, of the war raging within their own soul – a war which seems so far gone, there’s absolutely no point of return, there’s no half way mark where an agreement can be made, with themselves, for themselves.
You see, the oceans, however violent and aggressive it may appear to be with itself, is loved by billions around the globe for its originality, nakedness, vulnerability, and complete honesty. Everybody knows the incomparable serenity that lies under the crashing waves, and they find serenity within themselves when around large bodies of water. Or rather, the seas and oceans emanate serenity from their very core.
Humans on the other hand, bottle up their inner conflicts under a facade because of the stigma our societies have created around such topics. If a person is uncomfortable in their own skin, or if they’re mentally or emotionally unstable, they’re labelled with such negative terms and called derogatory names, or are said to be seeking attention. But what we don’t realise is that mental health is a serious epidemic that isn’t addressed enough, in Muslim, as well as non-Muslim societies, but moreso in the Muslim society.
We put so much external pressure on these people, like there isn’t enough of an internal war going on already. Sweeping it under the rug and saying they’ll be fine, telling them they’re not grateful enough or that they aren’t that great of a Muslim if they feel depressed. The Prophet’s of Allah went through phases of depression, and they were the best humans to ever walk this Earth.
So if you know someone that isn’t doing too well, be there for them, genuinely. Be a listening ear, a pillar of strength, a dose of happiness, and a beacon of light for when they need it, and and even when they don’t.
For all those that have gone through, or are currently going through depression, don’t bottle it up inside yourselves. Talk to a trustworthy friend, a brother, a sister. Get it out of your system, do things that make you happy, often. Write about it, talk about it, draw about it. Use whatever avenue you need if it helps in the healing process, but whatever you do, keep moving forward, even if you’re crawling your way out of this seemingly inescapable darkness. You see, these mountains you carry on your shoulders, you were only meant to climb.
I end with the following quote which helps me through my toughest days, in hopes it giving strength to someone else;
“Oh Lord! My heart is so small, how can you place such big sorrows in it?” “Look,” He answered; “your eyes are even smaller, yet they behold the world in its entirety.”
