4 Ways Islam HURT My Mental Health

First, I wished I was a better Muslim. Then I wished I never was.
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0:00 Introduction
0:58 Upbringing
3:00 Stifled curiosity
6:15 Loss of trust in self
8:47 Shame and guilt
11:11 Overthinking
12:56 Epilogue

[Tanislife]

I left the religion a few days ago- and my anxiety and stress have vanished. I feel free

[Mangojozie]

I am also an ex-Muslim who used to be very curious as a child, and as an adult and I believe this is key. When I debate religion with my Muslim friends from university, all of whom have got good degrees from good universities and great careers, I find their arguments very silly and simplistic. Moreover I find their knowledge to be very superficial (even about Islam) - their interests outside of Islam all seem very limited and consumerist based, watching sports on TV or the latest blockbuster movie, eating in fancy 'halal restaurants, holidaying in Dubai, etc. And that is what I mean about curiosity being key - they may be smart academically in their chosen field but have no clue or interest about the world, about history, philosophy, politics, other religions and cultures, etc.

[wanderingnomad]

As an ExConvert for me the big problem was the number of restrictions and having to isolate yourself from other communities.

[Commentator]

As an European who grew up in a secular country, things like this are interesting and mind blowing in the same time.

[DenseEpiphany]

I'm beyond traumatized from this religion. Since I was little kid everything was about Islam. The indoctrination brainwashed me and fucked up the belief system about myself. I could've experienced so many things but I couldn't cuz I was a believer back then. Now that I left I suffer from severe depression and anxiety cuz I'm so furious that I have to hide it so that my family and friends wouldn't disown and reject me for this. Imagine getting ostracized for not being ignorant and being a critical thinker. This religion is so f'd up I don't even know where to begin. It's too much to process. This inauthenticity is eating me inside. The consequences of coming out are so brutal just for such a pathetic belief. This system around Islam is the definition of insanity and delusion

Edit: I'm begging u christians (I know u guys mean well) to stop saying I should pray to jesus and so on. Your religion is not much better and has very similar problems. You guys don't realize that many muslims also leave Islam because of the philosophical implications/problems an abrahamic god brings with it...

[ashleytheseeker]

Before leaving islam, i got to the point where i was so scared to admit that keeping up with all the things islam has us do was stressing me out. I thought allah wouldve taken me out immediately foe thinking that. "How can i be stressed when its allahs religion" i wanted to commit myself to a mental hospital. I made my salat on time, did extra nawafil, did extra dhikr, etc. But keeping that up from age 9 to 37 was catching up to me. My biggest reason leaving islam and being an atheist was my mental health.

[husseinrayshouni]

Ex-muslim, now atheist here. It is refreshing seeing a video like this specifically on Islam. One of my biggest issues with Islam was the "of course you should research and be curious! However if your curiosity leads you to ANYTHING other than Islam then you're doing it wrong.."

[ElyséeSails]

When i was a believer still, I confronted a heart-wrenching situation in our inheritance laws. When a man dies leaving only his mother, tradition dictates a cruel division: 25% to the grieving mother, 75% to the distant relative. This stark imbalance often forces the sale of the family home, leaving elderly women destitute. I struggled to reconcile ancient text with compassion, yet now, having shed both title, and faith .I ponder the human cost of unyielding such doctrine😓! Lastly Now, if someone challenges my departure from faith by quoting Quranic verses, I respond firmly: "I've delved far deeper into these texts than most. It's precisely because I know more, not less, that I've chosen this path." My journey from religious authority (Ex Imam) to critic is rooted in profound understanding, not ignorance !

[babykata-dtys]

I am not a Muslim, I have never been Muslim, or even religious for that matter. However, whenever I hear someone talk about scrutiny and repeating words and feeling bad for thoughts, and scared that somehow the world will find out about it and punish you in some way, I am reminded of my own experiences with OCD. In a way the habits are comforting in the moment, but if I give in to them it becomes a ritual and breaking it feels terrifying. From an outsider's perspective it seems like many religions can subtly or not so subtly encourage these unhealthy coping mechanisms and lead people to think these thought patterns and the rituals that come along with them are healthy or even holy.

[TheGoodShepard]

As an ex Mormon I come here to relate. Thank you ❤

[aylina]

The guilt part hits deep. As a muslim you really feel guilty for being alive. I felt guilty for liking music, joining dance classes, wanting to go out with friends, pleasuring myself… i was afraid to do stuff that did not directly have to do with religious activities or that was seen as haram.

[ScientificMind]

I left islam at the age of 20 after reading human evolution and history. Questioning and getting information to have an answer was my nature since childhood. Although I come from a deeply religious family and society, my curiosity was unstoppable. However, I didn't take the path of contradiction with the believers as they lack mental courage to break out of the prison of the belief system. The joy of freedom is unknown to them.

[edwinbiju]

I'm a catholic and I went thorugh the same thoughts as you and in the end I also left and started feeling much much better.

[SpiritualSuperHero]

Im also an ex muslim. I love your views and opinions. I also talk about islam on my channel. Im glad more people are starting to wake up ❤

[InkCD]

I was raised Christian but broke away from the religion. While my experience likely wasn't as isolating, because of all of the Ex-Christian stories, I commend you for providing a voice to those who haven't been represented. The mainstream media and a lot of discussion around Islam comes across unfortunately extreme. So much of the time people pick one of two sides, that Islam is a force for evil and will 'corrupt' the West (as if we ourselves are pure) or that Islam is above criticism and we should ignore all the internal issues the Muslim community faces. For this reason of forced simplicity upon the issue, I thank you greatly for providing compassion and patience. You seem to actually care about Muslims, unlike so many Islam critical voices. It's wonderful to see a more kind alternative to the new atheism that was far too harsh.
People are far too opportunistic to use valid criticism of Islam and skew it into hatred of Muslims. While I take much issue with things in the Quran it hurts me to see that any criticism of Muslims and Islam is now just used to fearmonger against immigrants and spew hatred at Palestinian civilians.

[TheProphetofLogic]

I left Islam because I got tired of trying to explain to people what a good person Muhammad was.... Of course I would have never became a Muslim in the first place if I knew Aisha was only nine... they lied to me to my face and told me she was 17.... I often wonder why they bothered lying to me when they knew I was going to find out eventually anyway and that's the point a lot of people don't leave once they find out because they're already into it this is called sacrificing your morals don't sell your soul.

[kardew]

who recites quran is muslim
who understands quran leaves islam.

[MysticVokkai]

This is very similar to my growing up in the Christian Southern US. I always worried that I wasn't truly saved, but I loved learning about science and history. Once when I was 20 and teaching a class at church, I found myself subconsciously explaining biological evolution to another church member and suddenly realized that science and logic made more sense than how I was raised. That was my last day in church and last day as a Christian

[imnotawake]

The employment of angels and need for testification by inanimate objects to god always struck me as strange even as a 6 year old.

I would only assume this was to somehow humiliate the person and make them feel constantly watched. This would drive anyone insane.

[brea]

Islam definitely hurt my mental health as well. Before puberty, I wished I never grew up because if I did grow up I would have to be responsible for my own deeds and then I would be eligible for hell. This is fucked up psychology that only a religion can invent on its own merit.