A Modern Disease: Constant Anxiety
In an age when negative news bombards us from all sides, social media dominates, life becomes more complex than ever and the pursuit of luxury and worldly temptations intensifies, anxiety has become a constant companion for many.
This invisible feeling tightens the chest, disrupts peace of mind, deprives sleep and serenity, exhausts the body, and distracts thoughts... What kind of serious affliction is this? A common psychological disorder? Or a condition associated with the strength or weakness of faith, requiring a special approach to treatment?
When anxious thoughts attack
Austrian psychologist Viktor Frankl, the founder of logotherapy, said, “Anxiety is not always an illness; sometimes it is a cry from the soul for help.”
At its core, anxiety is not a problem in itself but a signal. It is a painful premonition of disaster, arising even without an obvious cause. It begins as mild anxiety before an exam, interview, or meeting but quickly develops into a suffocating shackle, robbing a person of the joy of life.
Psychologically, anxiety is often associated with overanalyzing, fear of the future, and a person’s attempts to control what is beyond his control. When this state prolongs, physical symptoms appear: rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, chronic insomnia, and sometimes panic attacks.
What does religion say?
Anxiety is not a sin but a test for which there is a cure. Islam gives a person harmony between soul and body, heart and mind and it has the answer to this question. Allah the Almighty says in the Holy Koran (interpretation of the meaning), “Verily, We have created man in hardship [to make him experience various difficulties from birth to death].” (Sura Al-Balad, ayah 4).
Yes, hardship is inevitable and anxiety is part of it. A believer is not immune to anxiety or fear but he strives to overcome them through faith. Anxiety and sadness are half the illness, and trust in Allah ﷻ is half the cure. Could there be anything more beautiful than this balance?
Islam does not deny the existence of anxiety but teaches how to cope with it: not by running away or denying it but by a combination of practical measures and trust in the predestination of Allah ﷻ. One who is confident that Allah ﷻ is in control of all his affairs has nothing to worry about. If a slave begins and ends the day remembering only Allah ﷻ and trusting in Him, he takes upon himself all his worries, freeing his heart for love of Him, his tongue for remembrance and his body for worship. However, if his thoughts are occupied with worldly things, then Allah Almighty will place all the burdens of this life on him and leave him alone.
The Prophet’s ﷺ method for coping with anxiety
The Prophet ﷺ was the embodiment of compassion for his community and deeply understood human suffering. When his companions experienced anxiety, he offered them practical solutions: spiritual and psychological. He taught them the supplication, “O Allah ﷻ, I seek refuge in You from worries and sorrows, from weakness and laziness, from stinginess and cowardice, from the burden of debt, and from oppression of people.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari).
Notice how the Prophet ﷺ combined emotional experiences (sadness, grief) with material and social difficulties in this supplication, as if drawing a complete map of healing from anxiety.
What does medicine say?
Modern psychiatry confirms that anxiety is effectively treatable. However, the main obstacle is social stereotypes and the fear of admitting one’s feelings.
In severe cases, medication is used, but cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is more important, teaching a person to face his fears head-on rather than run from them. Interestingly, CBT is based on “restructuring negative thinking”, this is precisely what Islam encourages when it teaches us to replace pessimism with contentment, anxiety with hope and despair with patience.
Research shows that reassurance therapy, through the remembrance of Allah ﷻ and prayer, produces powerful results in the treatment of anxiety disorders.
How to overcome anxiety?
- Supplicate to Allah ﷻ, not formally, but sincerely, with trust in Him.
- Talk about your fears, do not be shy about saying, “I am anxious”. Speaking is the first step to liberation.
- Find meaning; anxiety often arises from a lack of purpose in life. Understanding “why I live” calms the soul.
- Do not be afraid to ask for help, whether from a doctor, a psychologist, a knowledgeable theologian or an imam. The main thing is not to be left alone with the problem.
- Maintain contentment and patience, put your trust in Allah ﷻ and know that after difficulty comes relief.
Anxiety is not always bad; sometimes it is a signal we need. However, it becomes dangerous if ignored. Let us learn to listen to it and then overcome it through faith, trust in the Lord of the Worlds and supplication, rather than running away.
