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The Mindful Muslim is an Inspirited Minds podcast that hosts raw, open, and honest conversations on various topics within the sphere of mental health, psychology, Islam and spirituality. This time we have a candid conversation with Suhayl Patel. Our host, Meanha Begum, dives into Suhayl’s role as an Ethnic Minorities ‘Community Connector’ at Beacon Counselling Trust. He has lived experience of gambling addiction and suicidal thoughts, and has struggled immensely in dealing with the consequences, shame and stigma surrounding it. He has shown great courage by speaking and conducting workshops at Masaajid, Madrasahs and community-based events to help those who are struggling, including family and friends. He is primarily responsible for the development of culturally appropriate support and resources at Beacon Counselling Trust. This has been fundamental in helping to reduce the stigma around gambling-related harm and facilitate treatment referrals from the BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnicities) communities. Through his energetic stewardship, Beacon Counselling Trust has consistently continued to grow its BAME-focused interventions year on year. Through his experience, he discusses: The problem of gambling addiction, how/why it can cultivate and its underlying emotions, thoughts and feelings. The cycle of addiction with concurrent stigma, shame, and a lack of belonging. How escapism acts as a vehicle to addictive behaviours – Strong cultural barriers to seeking help, support and counselling. The urgent need for compassion, empathy and open pastoral discussions in a community setting. The lack of Muslim representation in matters that affect the Muslim community. The journey towards recovery, preventing relapse and reconnecting with a sense of belonging. You can contact Suhayl at suhayl.patel@beaconcounsellingtrust.co.uk. The Beacon Counselling Trust has a Free 24-hour National Gambling Helpline Number at 0808 8020 133. If you would like to ask us a question, suggest a topic you would like us to discuss on the podcast or if you would like to feature on the podcast as a guest, then please get in touch with the Mindful Muslim Podcast Team at info@inspiritedminds.org.uk. Support our podcast by becoming an Inspirited Minds Torchbearer – https://torchbearer.inspiritedminds.org.uk

The Mindful Muslim is an Inspirited Minds platform that hosts raw, open, and honest conversations on various topics within the sphere of mental health, psychology, Islam and spirituality. We’re back with an enlightening episode with Maya Salam. Our host, Meanha Begum, explores Maya’s work as a psychodynamic psychotherapist who has her own practice – specifically for women who have suffered from abuse, trauma and a range of mental health difficulties.  The Maya Centre is a small charity, providing a free counselling service in Islington for women who have experienced Mental health issues Trauma, Gender based violence, including domestic violence, physical abuse or childhood sexual abuse and harmful traditional practices.  She talks about her experience as a woman in Islam, and what she thinks Muslim communities and Masaajid can do more to be welcoming of women who are struggling and give them a platform to speak out and support each other. Through her experience, she elucidates a number of topics: How identity, empathy and a sense of belonging is so vital to mental wellbeing The role of epigenetics in mental health difficulties The problem of generation gaps between families and how to strengthen family ties The forbidden culture and stigma experienced by domestic abuse victims and survivors, both women and men alike How very beneficial the practices of reflection and grounding are in helping with mental wellbeing The beauty psycho-dynamic psychotherapy in incorporating the uniqueness and individuality of a person, and their spirituality You can contact Maya at mayasalam@aol.co.uk and find out more about her work on her page ‘Psychotherapy with Islamic Values’ on Facebook or on her LinkedIn page. If you would like to ask us a question, suggest a topic you would like us to discuss on the podcast or if you would like to feature on the podcast as a guest, then please get in touch with the Mindful Muslim Podcast Team at info@inspiritedminds.org.uk. Support our podcast by becoming an Inspirited Minds Torchbearer – https://torchbearer.inspiritedminds.org.uk

The Mindful Muslim is an Inspirited Minds platform that hosts raw, open, and honest conversations on various topics within the sphere of mental health, psychology, Islam and spirituality. This month we are meeting Hajer Bachi. Our host, Sivan Kader, has a thought-provoking discussion with Hajer about her studies in the field of neuroscience (for which she has an MSc qualification), her interest in self-compassion, mental health stigma, Islamic philosophy and psychology. She also talks about her expertise on the many layers of mental wellbeing, how there are multiple barriers that exist with identifying, seeking help and dealing with mental health issues and what we can do on a self, social and societal level to benefit ourselves and others. Currently she is a journal specialist in scientific research, and she approaches every project with an awareness of how our brain links to our mental health and behaviour. Her research into the concept of neurogenesis explored how our brain cells (called neurons) are encouraged to grow and develop, and are inter-related to the alleviation of mood disorders, such as depression. Here are some of the other topics Hajer discusses in this episode: The benefits of neurogenesis and how it’s related to intermittent fasting and an antioxidant rich diet The bubble of stigma of ‘mental health’ in the Muslim community, and how it’s often seen (incorrectly) as a sign of weak faith, shame or weakness How loving yourself is a very extreme form of self-care, and what we can do to balance our self-care with being more compassionate towards ourselves The concept of gratitude, future-journaling, reflections on death and other tools that we can use to encourage emotional reasoning, compassionate empathy and mental wellbeing The key character traits and practices that we can all practice in-order to help ourselves and supports others The role of the Muslim community towards creating a conducive environment for those struggling and suffering, and what more we can do to play our part Hajer works as the Lead Support Officer for Inspirited Mind’s Support team. You can get in touch with her by emailing her on hajer.bachi@inspiritedminds.org.uk. We offer advice and support by our team of qualified and trained support workers for a range of mental health-related problems, including listening support, counselling and our anonymised Ask IM advice service. If you would like to ask us a question, suggest a topic you would like us to discuss on the podcast or if you would like to feature on the podcast as a guest, then please get in touch with the Mindful Muslim Podcast Team at info@inspiritedminds.org.uk. Support our podcast by becoming an Inspirited Minds Torchbearer – https://torchbearer.inspiritedminds.org.uk

The Mindful Muslim is an Inspirited Minds platform that hosts raw, open, and honest conversations on various topics within the sphere of mental health, psychology, Islam and spirituality. We’re back with an enlightening episode with Lauren Greaves. Our host, Sivan Kader, learns about Lauren’s experience with diabetes as a teenager and how this grew into a cycle of intrusive thoughts and self-esteem issues, culminating in bulimia and kidney disease. She takes us through her journey in the healthcare system and how she eventually became better and took control of her physical health and mental wellbeing. She also discusses her surprise at seeing men suffer from eating disorders and how mental health does not discriminate between the sexes.  Through her powerful words, Lauren painted a picture of her struggles with hope and proactivity, and how looking after ourselves can really make a difference in our quality of life. Some of the things you’ll find out about are: Lauren’s journey with her mental health and what encouraged her to eventually reach out for help What practical things Lauren does to maintain good mental health and wellbeing How social media and it’s illusion of a perfect life can negatively affect our mental health How her experience with the NHS helped her improve her overall health and wellbeing Lauren’s struggle with being on the organ donor list, and how she feels it can really help others beyond the grave Lauren’s struggle with kidney disease can be read in more detail here. You can support Lauren and other people with kidney problems at the St. George Hospital Charity website. If you would like to ask us a question, suggest a topic you would like us to discuss on the podcast or if you would like to feature on the podcast as a guest, then please get in touch with the Mindful Muslim Podcast Team at info@inspiritedminds.org.uk. Support our podcast by becoming an Inspirited Minds Torchbearer – https://torchbearer.inspiritedminds.org.uk

Introducing Peer Pressure It is part of our fundamental human nature that we want to fit into our local society / environment. We all want a sense of belonging and according to Maslow’s theory of human motivation it is one of five categories of human needs. This is what makes peer pressure possible – the individual has always sought to be feel and be accepted by others as part of the collective and this can lead to both positive and negative effects.Research has found that peer pressure can encourage altruism and prosocial behaviour but it can also lead to more risk-taking  behaviours. In school, anti-intellectual stigma can have a huge impact on children’s lives. Over 80% of children with IQs over 160 report feeling socially isolated and there is often a fear that children perceived to be intellectually gifted will be labelled disapprovingly as ‘nerds’ or ‘geeks’ by peers. This can lead some children to stop putting in as much effort or even purposefully answer questions incorrectly on their exams in an attempt to ‘fit in’ with everyone else. Often when we think of peer pressure we think of explicit examples such as a group of teenagers encouraging each other to try smoking, but often peer pressure is implicit. We as individuals collect information about what is socially acceptable or stigmatised in our environment and this forms the basis of our actions, sometimes subconsciously.It’s easy to see how even our personality can be affected, in an environment which deems kindness to be weakness and respects a strong, dominant, self-serving attitude we may find ourselves being less friendly and more forceful or aloof in our manner. Similarly, if we attend a charity event we may find ourselves surrounded by altruistic individuals who will encourage us to be more generous than we expected to be before going. Over time the people around us help us to make associations between behaviours e.g. being overweight is undesirable or smiling will lead to more positive social outcomes, and these associations are very resistant to change later on, once formed. For this reason, it is really important, before jumping into a new group or environment, to reflect on whether the values of this group will bring us closer to being the person we want to be or take us further away from our authentic self. One thing that is important to say is that we all at one point go through experiences which solidify the idea that we cannot please everyone. We are complicated, and almost all of us, especially living in a diverse environment, are a part of several different social groups e.g. our friends from school / university / work, our family, our wider Muslim ummah, our racial / ethnic group etc. It is impossible to conform to all of the social norms within these different groups because sometimes they have mutually exclusive values; one group may promote certain behaviour/s as socially desirable, and another will stigmatise this behaviour or one group may promote dominant behaviour and another may promote humility and soft-spoken confidence; one group may stress independence and the other may stress cooperation and interdependence. We are left with the difficult decision of what values we think are the most important. Trying to please everyone will cause everyone to be disappointed and this is important to note, because in the end we should not be trying to solely please other human beings. We will always fail if this is our highest aim. We need to ensure that we can still respect ourselves, and only take decisions which are right and rational or believed to be. “Whoever sought the pleasure of Allah, though it was displeasing to the people, then Allah becomes pleased with him and will make the people pleased with him. And whoever sought the pleasure of the people, though it was displeasing to Allah, then Allah becomes displeased with him and will make the people displeased with him.”[Tirmidhi] There must be a balance in everything and this desire to conform to social expectations helps us to survive and make social bonds with others, but it must be limited. We are a bit like sheep in the sense that we want to feel a part of the flock but we have the faculty to reason and reject the social norm in situations where group attitudes / behaviours do not align with our values. We cannot allow other people’s wishes to go above the will of God and our own innate sense of right or wrong. Ultimately, in the hadith above it is clear that when we do this we will not get the result we intended to get, because people will still be displeased with us. Can you think of real-life examples of peer pressure and its effects?

In this months podcast, I spoke to Sheikh Saeed Nasser about his work as an integrative counsellor, bereavement counsellor, interpreter and clinical supervisor. He shared his experience of working within the Muslim community in this capacity and shed light on several aspects of life from relationships to mental health. Sheikh Saeed also spoke openly about his earlier years, his way of facing the stigma he experienced with regards to his visual impairment and his love for his home, the UK. With his gentle nature and wise words, Sheikh Saeed really gave the team and I a lot to ponder upon. Some of the things you’ll find out about are: Where did his passion for mental health com from? What were his younger years like and what kind of stigma did he face? How did Sheikh Saeed handle stigma towards him? What teachings can we take from the Qur’an to help us deal with everyday stressors and greater difficulties? How can we think about life and the hereafter and remind ourselves of the temporary nature of this world? How can we form resilient families and communities? How can we be more open in our relationships and really allow each other to express ourselves without fear of judgement? Our podcast The Mindful Muslim, is a space to have open, honest, raw conversations on mental health, psychology, Islam and spirituality. If you have a question or topic you would like us to discuss on The Mindful Muslim Podcast or if you would like to feature on the podcast as a guest please contact us at info@inspiritedminds.org.uk. Support our podcast by becoming an Inspirited Minds Torchbearer – https://torchbearer.inspiritedminds.org.uk

Our podcast The Mindful Muslim, a space to have open, honest, raw conversations on mental health, psychology, Islam and spirituality is back, this time in video form. I (Sivan Kader) speak to Adam Afghan who shares his experience with anxiety, depression, OCD and intrusive thoughts. Adam opens up about how he struggled with anxiety as a child and experienced disturbing thoughts later in life which culminated in him contemplating suicide. He also speaks about how he eventually sought help to improve his mental wellbeing. Today, he continues to actively confront his thoughts and manage his mental health. He says: “real courage, is tackling problems head-on.” Some of the things you’ll find out about are: What were Adam’s struggles with his mental health and how did he deal with them? What practical things does Adam do to maintain good mental health and wellbeing? How can real-life connections aid our state of mind? What role does the media and social media play in our lives and how they affect our mental health? How can we critically question suicide and deal with the core reasons behind it? What are the steps we can take to normalise mental health problems and thus pave the way for improved mental health? If you have a question or topic you would like us to discuss on The Mindful Muslim Podcast or if you would like to feature on the podcast as a guest please contact us at info@inspiritedminds.org.uk. Support our podcast by becoming an Inspirited Minds Torchbearer – https://torchbearer.inspiritedminds.org.uk

Clinical Psychologist Nomir Ahmed from an NHS Mental Health Trust in London gives his insight into Self-Harm and Self Destructive Behaviours in this month’s The Mindful Muslim Podcast. Some of the things you’ll find out about are: What Self-Harm is The most common reasons for someone to inflict self-harm on themselves The Self-Harm cycle Misconceptions around Self-Harm Treatments and support for Self-Harm Next month we’ll be talking about the impact money and debt has on one’s mental health. If you have any questions you would like us to answer, please email your questions to: info@inspiritedminds.org.uk.

February has been a great month of opening up conversations that are often quite difficult to face, sometimes complex and even harder to accept. Although we have focused heavily on sexual abuse, trauma and the effects it has on the brain, this podcast is an interesting combination of various taboo topics. We had the pleasure of hosting Hanfia Iliyas from Eden Houses UK and Sofia Buncy, from Muslim Women in Prisons who both gave very unique perspectives of domestic violence within the Muslim community. Some of the things you’ll find out about are: What the definition of domestic violence actually is? How different do Muslim women and men react to domestic violence? What role does Islam play for the perpetrator and the victim? To what extent does culture have a role? Is there a correlation between muslim women’s criminal acts and domestic violence? You will also listen to troubling real life questions being answered, as well being given practical and helpful advice on how to get help for yourself, or for others. Let us know your thoughts on this month podcast! Next month we’ll be talking about self harm and self destructive behaviours. If you have any questions you would like us to answer, please email your questions to: info@inspiritedminds.org.uk.

 This month we have been talking about sexual health, intimacy and pornography in the Muslim Community and we were honoured to have Imam Alyas Karmani join us for this month’s podcast – and we really go to town with this one. There’s no shame, and no room for cringe-ing in this podcast. So if you would like to hear about the detailed experiences that the Imam himself has been in, as well as other issues around sexual health, particularly pornography with no holding back, then listen in. Some of the things you’ll find out about are: What are the sexually related issues affecting Muslims today? Why we don’t talk about it and why there is so much shame attached to the topic? What is the difference between mainstream sexual health education and Islamic sexual health education? What should be taught within the home? What does Islam truly say about intimacy? Real life questions from listeners about the effects of sexual abuse, what to do about pornography and self-harm and advice for 7 year long relationship that had led to phone sex and potentially more. This podcast contains explicit adult content. If you watch pornography, please participate in our 100% anonymous survey which will help us to produce beneficial sexual health leaflets for Muslims, workshops and help us provide vital information and advice for the community. Next month we’ll be talking about death and bereavement; do you have any questions you would like us to answer? Please email us your questions to: info@inspiritedminds.org.uk.

This month we have approached a subject that isn’t spoken about very often and although some of the weeks have been awkward to discuss it’s been a good way to break the ice around this taboo topic. Premarital relationships is a growing concern, especially for young adults and we are at a time where proverbs such as “when nikkah becomes hard, zina becomes easy” are more and more present. So how do we save ourselves from the consequences of such relationships? We were honored to host sister Haleh Banani, a clinical psychologist who has over 20 years of experience working with couples and individuals with the aim to inspire people to live and love with a higher purpose. In this podcast we discuss how premarital relationships initiate; how this affects an individuals mental health, what marriage offers, how Islam deals with such situations, an insight into her courses especially an upcoming course, “laugh and learn” and much more. Next month we are talking about unrealistic intimacy and how it affects your mental health, do you have any question you would like us to answer? Please email us your questions to: info@inspiritedminds.org.uk.

This month we have been talking about the dreaded “who are you?” question, where everyone has something to say, but it’s not always everything we have to say. Whether we avoid the question intentionally or because we frankly have no clue who we are, or whether or not we want to answer with what is socially accepted or what is in line with our values – this podcast will cover the A-Z of the perfect identity crisis. Muslims worldwide, in every generation, and every culture, are often torn between who their parents are, who they want to be, and who they are expected to be. This can result in the feeling of never truly belonging to any group, label, or category. Having a sense of belonging is important to our wellbeing, but does it shape who we really are? Islam is something that started out as strange and will always remain strange, so how does this effect our Muslim identity? Is there such a thing? Is it really that deep? Listen in to our podcast this month with graduate Mashuda from Birmingham, a young Muslim, who grew up in one of the most diverse cities in the UK, where we discuss the following issues: The definition of identity, and the Islamic identity How growing up in a diverse society affects identity What one should do when experiencing an identity crisis The importance of staying true to yourself and your values Next month we are talking about pre-marital relationships and how it affects your mental health, do you have any question you would like us to answer? Please email us your questions to: info@inspiritedminds.org.uk.

This month we have been looking at student stress – from results day, to accommodation, to lectures, to procrastination. However, what better way to hear about it, than hearing it from 2nd year Psychology student at the University of Birmingham, Rayhan Ahmed. He left his hometown where he grew up and had never left, he went into a new environment, with different people and received a big wake up call. In this podcast we discuss cliques, student habits and the importance of aligning your purpose in life to your university goals. It’s packed with enlightening experiences, and totally relatable situations – whether you’re at college, starting University or are a graduate, this is a podcast for you. Don’t forget that we will be coming to the University of Birmingham on the 13th of October, for more information about the day, visit this page: x If you have a question or topic you would like us to discuss  on The Mindful Muslim Podcast or if you would like to feature on the podcast as a special guest please contact us at info@inspiritedminds.org.uk.

Our theme this month is around postnatal depression, however it would be an injustice if we ignored the other side of the matter. Males in general are forgotten when it comes to mental health, and fathers are totally neglected when it comes to pregnancy and related issues. However, we want to change this. Fathers should hold the same significance and importance as the mother when a new life is brought into the world. We agree they don’t have to go through the physical aspect of pregnancy, but they invest emotionally and mentally just as much. They may even have external worries as a male figure that females do not necessarily have to worry about. Join us and Abu Amaanah, a young father and entrepreneur as well as a fatherhood and lifestyle blogger where we discuss the struggles of fatherhood, paternal depression and the importance of preparation. If you have a question or topic you would like us to discuss  on The Mindful Muslim Podcast or if you would like to feature on the podcast as a special guest please contact us at info@inspiritedminds.org.uk.

Ramadan is brimming with treasures waiting to be discovered within ourselves and our communities. Alas, there are forgotten gems within society which we often isolate and stigmatize, but this is the year we want to change that.  Whilst Ramadan is an extremely positive time, for some it is a nightmare, and not because of the perfect ordainment from Islam but because of their own mental health issues which Allah has excused, but society does not.  Join us for Wajid’s strenuous journey as a young survivor of mental ill health who discusses his battle of starvation and self-hate. He takes us back to the deep roots of his trauma, how this inner conflicted manifested, and finally his recent recovery.  Some viewers may find the contents of this podcast upsetting, however it is one worth tuning into. Not only to gain an insight into eating disorders which is something already frowned upon, but from a young male perspective. We pray that Allah continues to take Wajid and others like him from strength to strength and know that Inspirited Minds is here for you.  To stay updated with Wajid’s poetry you can visit him on Instagram @_wajidwrites If you have a question or topic you would like us to discuss  on The Mindful Muslim Podcast or if you would like to feature on the podcast as a special guest please contact us at info@inspiritedminds.org.uk.

An idea created with pure love and understanding of the complexities we all feel in our daily lives. MIM Apparel are a conversational clothing brand who are looking to kick start the dialogue about mental health with uniquely produced designs, each with their own narrative. This month Shumi and Tajmina share MIM Apparel’s story on how fashion can be used to creatively represent mental health in a different light. To learn more about MIM Apparel please visit http://mimapparel.bigcartel.com If you have a question or topic you would like us to discuss  on The Mindful Muslim Podcast or if you would like to feature on the podcast as a special guest please contact us at info@inspiritedminds.org.uk.

This month we have focused on food and mental health, (what better timing with Ramadan around the corner?) We have talked about the relationship we maintain, the relationship we should have according to the sunnah, different food groups and their effects on mood and much more discussion to come. Meanwhile, we have had the pleasure of Safira, from Tiffin and Tea complementing our theme. To hear about the blog; its goals, Safira’s top nutritional tips, Prophetic medicine, alongside her own journey with anxiety, and parenting and healthy eating, then listen in! If you have a question or topic you would like us to discuss  on The Mindful Muslim Podcast or if you would like to feature on the podcast as a special guest please contact us at info@inspiritedminds.org.uk.

We’re making some movement toward defeating the stigma around mental health, but what about the negative ideas around therapy and intervention? For your FAQ’s to be answered about therapy, a different perspective of Islamic Counselling, and to hear what it’s like for a therapist to have received therapy alongside an alternative and inspirational attitude on how to move forward, then listen in! If you have a question or topic you would like us to discuss  on The Mindful Muslim Podcast or if you would like to feature on the podcast as a special guest please contact us at info@inspiritedminds.org.uk.

With sweaty palms, and shaky breath, brother AbdurRahman fidgets nervously as he takes us through his gripping journey of how he arrived in the UK. Become witness to his hard swallows as he fights back tears remembering his trauma and reliving the pain of leaving his family and his home. Listen in to empathise with his frustration, understand his concerns and take from what he has to say to the Ummah. Please remember this brother as well those like him in your precious A’diyaat. If you have a question or topic you would like us to discuss  on The Mindful Muslim Podcast or if you would like to feature on the podcast as a special guest please contact us at info@inspiritedminds.org.uk.

Have you ever started something, feeling pumped and ready to take on the world; as if nothing could get in the way, or shatter your dedication to then be at a much slower pace a few days or weeks later? Weighed down, practically dragging your feet to the finish line which is no longer in sight? Sounds pretty similar right? Whether that is starting the gym, eating healthier, being more organised, writing diary entries, or being more sociable. The majority of us know this feeling and the mental portrait of ourselves is probably slumping in agreement. Why do we do this and how can we overcome it? We have apps, calendars, reminders and all sorts of tools that should help us, but could there be something much deeper within us that builds this brick wall we daily find ourselves at? Join Meanha and NLP life coach Fatou who discuss what motivation is, why we often fail ourselves and how to arrive at our goals at a gentle pace rather than stumbling through our daily life and tasks. If you have a question or topic you would like us to discuss  on The Mindful Muslim Podcast or if you would like to feature on the podcast as a special guest please contact us at info@inspiritedminds.org.uk.