Fasting and Mental Illness
Salam,
I’ve struggled with mental health since I was about 14, but it wasn’t until I was 15 when I was admitted inpatient for treatment. Since then I’ve been in and out of hospitals for treating my mental health. This January I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and they’ve put me on a mood stabiliser ( heavily heavily sedative so I have to take it around 7 so it doesn’t sedate me into the next day) an antipsychotic and an antidepressant which I’m meant to take in the morning because otherwise my mind will be sort of fuzzy and stuff.
I’ve been fasting all of Ramadan so far and have fasted since I was 13, but since I’ve started on these medications and since my condition has been deteriorating it’s been dofficult this year. I’m in a fine place mentally right now but January was terrible and the medications have helped me get my self together again. Since I’ve been fasting I’ve taken my medicines at irregular intervals or not at all and I’m finding it increasingly difficult managing without them. It’s not an immediate affect but it’s been getting steadily worse.
What would you recommend I do?
JazakAllah
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Assalaamu Alaikum,
Its sounds like you been through quite a bit in working towards mental wellness. I am pleased to hear that you finally found a regimen that helps you function and feel better mentally. May Allah reward you profusely for struggling to please Him through fasting. The fact that you have tried to fast and found negative consequences due to fasting and being unable to take your medications properly, I recommend that you stop fasting and work towards stabilizing you mental health again. In addition to my professional opinion on the matter, I have consulted with a Psychiatrist on your situation and she highly recommends that you resume to your medication regimen at the appropriate and regular intervals as well. Yes, this will mean that you cannot fast this Ramandan, but as people with diabetes cannot fast due to their dependence on insulin, similar is your case. I am not an Islamic scholar by any means, but from my understanding, when you cannot fast due to the need for medications or any illness you have the option instead of paying fidyah (money paid to feed the poor) for everyday you cannot fast. Unfortunately, our Muslim community tends to not take mental illness as seriously as they take other illnesses. I believe that for anyone struggling with mental illness and are concerned about their medication regimens that may be affected by fasting should first consult with their psychiatrist about any ramifications of changing their medication regimen. Upon acquiring professional recommendations one can make appropriate decisions about whether or not fasting is possible. If fasting is not recommended than to pay the fidyah. Allahu Alim. Of course, consulting an Islamic scholar on this matter is equally important. Here is an article related to mental illness and Ramadan that you may find helpful: https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/2016/06/114217/ramadan-mental-health. May Allah reward your intentions and efforts to please Him, and may He guide you to the appropriate path for you and grant you the healing and strength for continued mental health and wellness.
Your Sister in Islam
Fatima V
