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I’m Scared of Death & The Last Day

24 July, 2017
Q For no reason, I always get worried. Whenever I read something about Hellfire or punishment on the Day of Resurrection, I get scared. I’m not sure if I have anxiety problems or not. I wish I could go to psychologist perhaps, but I can't. If I asked my parents to take me go to a doctor, they would get tensed, and I don’t want that to happen. In prayer, when I go to prostration, my heart beats up very fast and not only in salah but in regular times also, my hands start sweating when I think something negative or hear something negative. When I hear something like XYZ is dead, I feel now it’s going to happen with me. In short, I am scared of death. I have a digestion problem, but I don’t think this happens due to the gas problem. Whenever I say this to my dad that I feeling something awkward in my stomach, he says "yeah, don’t worry, it’s just the gas problem". He is a doctor. How can I get rid of this problem? I know one day everyone shall taste death, but why do I get such negative feelings? I regularly pray, I read Quran, I do my best to be a good Muslim, wallahu ’alam, but at the end, I am still scared. I often get pissed off at my brothers and my dad and mom. Please help me!

Answer

Answer:

As-Salamu ‘Alaykum,

Thank you for writing us. I’m sorry to hear about the distress you are going through, dear brother. It does, indeed, sound like you are suffering from anxiety disorder; however, only a counselor can assess you and make that diagnosis.

Anxiety disorder/Panic disorder is very common with the ADAA putting estimates of adult suffers at about 40 million alone in the USA. Some symptoms include rapid heartbeat, shakiness, feeling faint, feeling as if you will die, excessive worrying, sweaty palms, feelings of things not being real, fear of speaking in public, and much more. Please see this link for a more comprehensive list. Also, you can take this online self test to see if you feel you fit the criteria.

While you may feel like you don’t want to “bother” your parents with this issue, I really encourage you to discuss this with them in depth and explain you would like to see a counselor to find out if it is, indeed, anxiety disorder and to get help (in sha’ Allah) to resolve these feelings.

There’s nothing to be ashamed of, brother. Like I said, millions of people suffer from anxiety at one time or another. You are not alone, and there is treatment, so please do seek help!

You are in our prayers brother. Please let us know how you are.

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About Aisha Mohammad
Aisha has a PhD in psychology, an MS in public health and a PsyD. Aisha worked as a Counselor/Psychologist for 12 years at Geneva B. Scruggs Community Health Care Center in New York. She has worked with clients with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, panic disorder, trauma, and OCD. She also facilitated support groups and provided specialized services for victims of domestic violence, HIV positive individuals, as well youth/teen issues. Aisha is certified in Mindfulness, Trauma Informed Care, Behavioral Management, Restorative Justice/ Healing Circles, Conflict Resolution, Mediation, and Confidentiality & Security. Aisha is also a Certified Life Coach, and Relationship Workshop facilitator. Aisha has a part-time Life Coaching practice in which she integrates the educational concepts of stress reduction, mindfulness, introspection, empowerment, self love and acceptance and spirituality to create a holistic healing journey for clients. Aisha is also a part of several organizations that advocates for prisoner rights/reentry, social & food justice, as well as advocating for an end to oppression & racism. In her spare time, Aisha enjoys her family, photography, nature, martial arts classes, Islamic studies, volunteering/charity work, as well as working on her book and spoken word projects.