Faith and Mental Illness…. My journey

One of the biggest lessons I am learning is that my worth is not measured by the number on the scales. The people who truly love me do not love me because of my weight or appearance. More importantly, Allah does not judge me by my body or my outward beauty, but by what is in my heart and the deeds I strive to perform.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Indeed, Allah does not look at your appearance or your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds.”
(Sahih Muslim 2564)

For a long time, I went around in circles worrying about the weight gain and side effects of my medication. While those concerns are real, constantly changing and altering my medications will not help me move forward. My greatest challenge has been medication compliance because of the physical side effects, but I have come to realise that I need to change my perspective.

Healthy eating and regular exercise cannot be a short term goal. They must become a way of life, regardless of whether the scales move quickly or not. My responsibility is to take the means that Allah has provided, remain consistent, and leave the results to Him.

Although I struggle… i don’t want to see Olanzapine as an obstacle to achieving my goals. By the permission of Allah, it has helped stabilise my mind and enabled me to reconnect with my family, my community, and my worship. Rather than focusing only on what the medication has taken from me, Inshallah I will choose to be grateful for what Allah has allowed it to restore.

This journey has taught me that perseverance is not about seeing immediate results. It is about continuing to make good choices every day, trusting Allah, and striving for a healthier body, a healthier mind, and, above all, a healthier heart.

Alhamdulilah……