You matter: Islamophobia can cause people to feel dehumanized, but help is available

As a Muslim American counselor, I feel the need to speak up about the declining mental health of our community due to the increase in Islamophobia and racial trauma that has been unleashed all over the world following recent conflicts in the Middle East. I am bearing witness in real time to how members of the Muslim community are being impacted through my clinical work as an individual counselor at Shift Counseling, PC and through my non-profit work with Project Taqwa, a Muslim mental health advocacy organization.

The injustice that has been unleashed on the Palestinian people is the cause of catastrophic concern throughout the Muslim community. While it is not within my power to eliminate the pain that the Muslim community is experiencing right now, I hope to acknowledge this pain, spread awareness, and provide ways those affected can protect their mental health during these challenging times.

Due to the global rise of demonstrations of Islamophobia for the past few months, many Muslims are living in constant fear of being targeted for their faith and skin color. Islamophobia is defined as an irrational fear and hate towards Islam and Muslim people that can result in hostility and violence.

There are many layers to these issues, and Islamophobia is playing out across the globe

The news brings daily accounts of both ongoing daily humanitarian crises in Palestine, and stories of Palestinians and Muslims around the world being attacked and in some cases killed. Locally, It started in October, with the murder of 6-year old Wadea Al-Fayoumi by his landlord in the suburbs of Chicago.

Most recently, in Vermont, 3 Palestinian Muslim college students named Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdelhamid, and Tahseen Ali Ahmad were shot and harmed with various levels of injury, simply for being Palestinian. These are two of the highest profile cases, but since October, hundreds of hate crimes have been reported to CAIR, which is our nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization.

In addition, the ongoing war in Gaza has amplified Anti-Muslim hate speech and aggression around the world. Muslim men, women, and children have been harassed for their visibly practicing appearance such as women wearing the hijab (headscarf) or any other religious/ethnic clothing. There have been countless incidents at schools and universities where students are being questioned about their activism for human rights. As a community it is crucial to look out for one another as many are facing verbal aggression and stalking in public places.

A wave of fear and pain that is leaving many struggling to function

Due to the magnitude of these incidents, it is not surprising that the wellbeing of our community is being undermined. As a Muslim counselor, the emotional responses I have observed in sessions with Muslim clients have included increased anxiety, fear, sadness, grief, hypervigilance, rage, anger, confusion, frustration, and a collective feeling of helplessness. These are normal responses to abnormal events occurring locally and globally.

Many of the people I work with have a relative, friend, colleague or acquaintance that has been affected by the tragedies. If you are experiencing these feelings, it is important to understand that you are not alone. We are experiencing collective trauma with responses that can be emotional as described above. Many are also experiencing psychological responses, such as difficulty concentrating and irritability.

Physical responses to Islamophobia may look like increased heart rate, headaches, stomach aches, nausea, changes in appetite, sleep, and prolonged muscle tension. When the human body is in a constant state of fear and anxiety, the nervous system is activated nonstop. In that state of mind, it is common to experience difficulty focusing in school and/or the workplace, loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, lack of motivation, and withdrawal from social situations.

Dehumanization, Demoralization, and Survivor’s Guilt

My Palestinian clients in particular are feeling dehumanized and demoralized by the misleading narratives about them within their respective communities such as Universities or workplaces. Within the Chicagoland area, many students have been reprimanded for their Pro-Palestinian stance and/or lost their jobs as well. Clients are experiencing feelings of betrayal towards those that are meant to protect them and their rights.

Many Palestinians are also dealing with fear for their people and their homeland while navigating “survivor’s guilt” as they live here, removed from the worst of the violence. They feel powerless as they watch the horrors unfold online and on TV, as they watch their people being bombed, starved, pushed out of their homes, and desperate for basic medical care, with no end in sight.

Survivor’s guilt can present itself as self-blame, hopelessness, intrusive thoughts, and negative self-image. Many Palestinian people and Muslims report feeling guilty for escaping traumatic events that others were not able to avoid. In many cases, guilt is all-consuming to the point where they are unable to participate in their daily functioning.

To those deeply affected by this violence, your mind and body may be unaware of how to cope and process these feelings all at once and that is understandable. Human beings are not meant to endure this kind of prolonged distress alone.

Hope and resiliency despite the adversity of depression, anxiety, stress, and trauma

The role of therapy and other types of healing

As a therapist treating the Muslim population, I believe it is essential for healing professionals to be informed and aware of how the ongoing violence may affect our clients. As an individual affected by this, I see how important it is for us to increase self-awareness so we can reach out when we need help. As a Muslim community member, I see how vital it is for us to provide support to those that are affected directly or indirectly by Islamophobia and any kind of racial trauma.

Although there has been a rise in mental health awareness and increased access to services in the Muslim community, the stigma still exists. Individuals that are struggling may have difficulty taking the initial step to seek help because of societal myths and misconceptions within the Muslim community regarding therapy. There is still a large part of the Muslim community that believes that seeing a counselor is a sign of weak faith and lack of resilience. In reality, a Muslim seeing a counselor to get help with mental health symptoms is no different than seeking medical attention from physical illness.

It is important to recognize when your health is being negatively impacted and take steps to care for yourself. If it feels like too much to seek therapy at a time like this, other coping skills such as prayer, community involvement, and healing circles can also be beneficial.

Kindness goes a long way to heal ourselves and others

14 ways Muslims can improve their mental health these challenging times

Some coping skills I would recommend using during this time would be:

- Acknowledging and naming your feelings

- Expressing your feelings to a trusted individual

- Working on cognitive reframing with a therapist

- Identifying what is in your control and what is not

- Establishing actionable steps to channel the anger and guilt

- Attending community healing circles

-Engaging in outlets such as exercise, massage, grounding techniques, deep breathing, meditation, and prayer to release stress and anxiety

- Practicing gratitude daily

-Self-validating emotions as a reasonable response to the circumstances

- Seeing a counselor when self help is not enough to help you manage

- Giving back to the community in ways that are suitable for you (be careful here: if you expect too much of yourself, you will be perpetuating the burnout cycle. Small efforts make a difference! If a lot of people do a little, we can make major impacts!)

- Educating yourself and spreading awareness

- Practicing discipline around media consumption to prevent compassion fatigue

- Practicing self-care such as managing healthy eating and sleeping habits

In short, my message to my community is this: Do not allow yourself to become another vicarious victim of this violence. Self care is important to maintain your endurance. Our community needs people who are able to remain strong and present despite this adversity. If you feel that your ability to function is suffering due to these circumstances, please reach out. Muslim counseling services are available.

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