Mental Health Conditions

At AMF, we recognize that different organizations may distinguish between mental health conditions and mental illnesses. However, we choose to use these terms interchangeably, as both refer to challenges that affect an individual’s mental and emotional well-being.

A mental illness is a condition that influences a person’s thoughts, emotions, behaviors, or overall mood. These conditions can significantly affect daily life and relationships. If you are living with—or think you may be experiencing—a mental health condition, it’s important to remember: you are not alone.

Mental health issues are more common than many realize, often because people feel uncomfortable or fearful talking about them. Consider these statistics:

• 1 in 5 Bangladesh. adults experience a mental illness each year

• 1 in 20 Bangladesh. adults experience a serious mental illness each year

• 1 in 6 Bangladesh. youth (ages 6–17) experience a mental health disorder each year

• 50% of all lifetime mental illnesses begin by age 14, and 75% by age 24

Mental health conditions are rarely caused by a single factor. Research points to a combination of genetics, environment, and lifestyle. Stressful home or work environments, traumatic events, or disruptions in brain chemistry or structure may all contribute.

It’s important to understand: mental illness is not a sign of personal failure. You are not broken, and neither you nor your family is to blame. Mental illness is a medical condition—just like any physical health issue.

The good news is that recovery is possible. With early intervention, the right treatment, and active involvement in your recovery journey, you can live a fulfilling and meaningful life—at home, at work, in school, and in your community.

Understanding Drives and the Spiritual Path to Healing

The human experience is shaped by various internal “drives” that influence our mental health and resilience against depression. By understanding these drives and embracing spiritual discipline, we can navigate emotional challenges and find lasting peace.

The Generative Drive: Cultivating Contentment

The Generative Drive is the pursuit of goodness through perseverance and patience. It finds joy in simplicity and nurturing—whether it is the comfort of cuddling a pet, the pure energy of playing with children, or the tranquility of a walk in the woods listening to the rustle of leaves. These moments foster deep gratitude and contentment, acting as a natural buffer against despair.

The Balance of Pleasure and Pain

Our internal drive for pleasure is often regulated by dopamine, a chemical messenger associated with reward and motivation. We feel its effects through food, work, love, and entertainment. However, human biology operates on a delicate balance:

• The Seesaw Effect: For every spike in pleasure, the brain naturally creates a counter-balance of discomfort or craving.

• The Trap of Excess: Pursuing unregulated pleasure—such as the overconsumption of digital media, substances, or alcohol—leads to a “reset” where the brain releases less dopamine. This can result in addiction, mood disorders, and a profound sense of mental agony.

• The Reset: To heal, we must consciously slow down the pursuit of instant gratification, allowing our neurological balance to restore itself.

Overcoming Denial through Communication

The first and most vital step toward recovery is recognition. Often, ego and arrogance lead to denial, preventing individuals from admitting they are struggling.

• Sincere Expression: Admitting to a mental health challenge is not an admission of guilt; it is an act of courage.

• Breaking the Silence: Open communication is the foundation for correction and mitigation. By speaking our truth, we pave the way for inner peace, love, and compassion to return to our lives.

Practical Steps Toward Renewal

Hope is never lost. Healing begins with small, intentional actions that rebuild the spirit:

• Nurture Creativity: Engage in hobbies like gardening, painting, or cooking to find focus and purpose.

• Mindful Nutrition: Fuel your body with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, while reducing heavy carbohydrate intake.

• Physical Movement: A steady 30-minute walk in the morning or evening can significantly clear the mind.

• Sanctuary at Home: Transform your living space into a haven. Keep it neat, tidy, and decorated with small plants or handicrafts.

• Personal Dignity: Maintain regular hygiene and dress well; how we present ourselves influences how we feel.

• Community and Service: Connect with loved ones and join peer groups to share laughter and thoughts. If you have the means, give generously to those in need.

• Spiritual Connection: Ground yourself in daily Islamic rituals. End each day by turning to Allah (SWT) with a sincere, “Thank You.

• By aligning our physical habits with spiritual gratitude, we move away from the chaos of unregulated drives and toward a life of balanced harmony.

Understanding Mental Illness

Recognizing the difference between typical behavior and signs of a mental health condition isn’t always easy. There’s no single test that can confirm a mental illness, and symptoms can often be mistaken for everyday challenges or physical health issues.

Each mental illness has its own set of symptoms, but common signs in adults and adolescents include:

• Excessive worry or fear

• Persistent sadness or feeling “low”

• Confused thinking or difficulty concentrating

• Extreme mood changes (e.g., euphoria or irritability)

• Prolonged anger or frustration

• Withdrawal from friends and activities

• Trouble understanding or relating to others

• Changes in sleep patterns or low energy

• Appetite or weight changes

• Altered sex drive

• Hallucinations or delusions

• Lack of awareness of changes in mood or behavior (anosognosia)

• Substance abuse (alcohol or drugs)

• Frequent physical complaints without clear causes

• Suicidal thoughts or behaviors

• Difficulty managing daily tasks or stress

• Intense concern with weight or body image

Symptoms in Children

Mental health conditions can begin early in life. Children may not be able to express what they’re feeling, so signs often appear through behavior:

• Sudden changes in academic performance

• Constant worry or fear (e.g., avoiding school or bedtime)

• Hyperactive or restless behavior

• Recurring nightmares

• Frequent temper tantrums or aggression

• Persistent defiance or disobedience

Where to Get Help

Don’t hesitate to reach out for help—for yourself or someone else. Learning more about mental health is a key first step.

• • Critical Support Resources

    • 999 National Emergency Service
    Immediate crisis intervention.

    • Shastho Batayon (16263)
    Dial 16263 and press ‘0’ to speak with a doctor via the DGHS Health Helpline.

    • Alokito Manush Foundation (AMF)
    Providing confidential crisis support and advocacy via web chat.

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Getting a Diagnosis

Recognizing warning signs may indicate it’s time to speak with a mental health professional. Diagnosis is often the first step toward treatment.

Unlike physical illnesses, mental illnesses can’t be diagnosed with a blood test or scan. Instead, providers use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to evaluate emotional and behavioral symptoms.

Once diagnosed, your provider can help you create a treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Treatment Options

A diagnosis is just the beginning. Finding the right treatment involves understanding your personal goals, needs, and preferences. There is no “one size fits all” solution.

Common treatments include:

• Medication

• Therapy or counseling

• Peer or community support

• Education and lifestyle changes

You’re not alone.
Help is available—and recovery is possible.

Understanding the Broader Context of Mental Illness

Certain thoughts, behaviors, symptoms, and conditions are directly associated with mental illness. However, we often overlook how some of our everyday actions—such as the excessive use of alcohol to cope with anxiety after a long day—may signal deeper emotional struggles. Likewise, when a loved one resists seeking therapy, it may reflect more than just personal preference; it could be a symptom of an underlying mental health condition.

When evaluating your own mental health—or that of someone you care about—it’s essential to take a holistic approach. The components listed below represent key factors that can influence the severity or progression of a mental health condition. Recognizing these elements can be crucial in guiding more effective, personalized treatment plans.

Please note: this is not an exhaustive list. Mental illness is complex and deeply individual. As our understanding grows, we remain committed to sharing updated and expanded information to better support those affected.

Pathways to Recovery and Wellness

Understanding Depression

Depression is a signal, not a malfunction of hormone imbalance.
Depression is a mood disorder or some sort of disorder in the brain and overall state of feeling.
Most of the people live normal life with mild depression or anxiety, but severe clinical depression needs to look after by right mental health experts and Experienced Counsellor in right time.

Seek help or acknowledgement for depression is primary challenging factors, then the next stage is to seek prevention and treatment.
Few or several stress with scale of severity leads towards possible depression.
Some people carry some special genes which regulate mood enhancing chemicals called serotonin in brain are more susceptible to be affected by depression quicker.

Everyday Tips and Activities to Minimise Stress and Overcome Depression

There are some following few tips and everyday activities to calibrate our lifestyle and habits, which help to minimise mental stress and eventually help to get out of major depression.

1. Healthy food

2. Exercise, get out from the everyday routine, which becomes boring.

3. Sleep well, quality sleep from 10pm to 4pm; early risers are very great.

4. Fixing and cleaning home interiors regularly.

5. Dressings are good to feel confident and comfortable.

6. Meditation, yoga, and self-concentration.

7. Create a hobby to feel better, like gardening, cooking, painting etc.

8. If Muslim, exercise regular rituals.
   Readjusting mental platforms and plans.

9. Get out from narcissistic behaviour.

10. Locate and reflect regularly with Almighty Allah SWT for heart disease, like envy, extreme jealousy, showing-off tendencies, or ostentatious behaviour.

11. Habit of listening power and power to stop arguing for every statement.

12. Make quality friends.

13. Make life simple and content.

14. Try to get out of the habit of validation, like respect, everyday work from close ones and others.

15. Modesty, humility, and overall love are the main foundations. These days, most of the time, people are depressed because of loveless lives, which triggers loneliness and withdrawal symptoms. Be loved and spread love to humanity.

16. Find an alternative solution for a persistent trauma and help each other as a family to overcome that by taking a positive drive to rectify.

17. Open communication environments; if it is verbally not easy, text or write.

18. Dwelling on past regrets and conflicts, holding on to resentment makes you drained; just let it free to continue moving forward.

19. Avoid competition in a way that I am better than your attitude.

20. Try not to compare too much for everyday work and responsibilities.

21. Embraces nature, walking in wood or drizzle of rain to soak your heart clean.

22. Make a weekly peer meeting to share each other’s feelings face to face, not by fake social media platforms.

23. To break anything is easy, but to repair it is so hard. Extramarital affairs for a long time, extremely abusive relationships are the red line, but clashes for ego and heart disease are not red lines for breakups of relationships. If love still persists, keep trying for resolution. I am not a good fan of the breakup idea. Sometimes two good people make it hard to get along together because some personalities clash.

24. Make it a habit to say hello to the next-door neighbour and give a hug or kiss to your close one and friends. Simple touch is so powerful for inner happiness.

25. Follow the middle path or balance life.

26. Too much expectation and attachment is hurtful. Make a good balance.

27. Finally acknowledge the abundance of blessings surrounding us and give thanks to our almighty. Shukr and sabr, gratitude and perseverance, are two main pillars to overcome a lot of mental illness.

28. Get out of the addiction to social media; at the end of the day, it is fake. People become self-centred, selfish, and robotic due to this addiction. People stop to see surrounding real people and stop interaction.

29. Give more, be a charitable person, engage in volunteer jobs, and don’t strive for everything for money and fame and look for happiness only with those two parameters.

30. Regain the losses of self-identity, try to find out who you are, and look for real purpose in life accordingly. Sometimes a lack of purpose and an identity crisis put us in depression.

31. Get out of the habit of arrogance; it is the last thing in life and makes a huge amount of dirt in the heart.
    Listen to your heart more often than your head’s reasonings. Those things come from the head; that’s why people become judgemental. It is the triggering point of depression.

32. Less expectation; if it’s hampered, just ask for it. Don’t build it up in yourself.

33. Don’t make a transactional relationship. Do not make yourself a robot. Family is all about we, meaning bonding of love, care, and compromise. It must be flexible and understanding like generative drives.

34. Habit of giving rather than taking
    Life of simplicity and contentment, it generates gratitude and care for others.
    Knock on heart more often, rational thoughts in head less

35. Kept checking unnecessary anxiety and tension levels, which diminishes happiness and causes major destruction of generative drive. Give some space in tense moments and try to keep quiet.

36. Gentle behaviour or modesty doesn’t mean you are weak and don’t have personality. It is the bottom line and then thrives for resilience of personality.

37. Open communication is a vital tool for happy relationships and a great mindset.

38. Don’t be feeling guilty when you talk about anxiety and depression; everyone in their span of life feels depressed and sad at some point. It is God-given, and sometimes it’s a blessing to revisit and recognise our faults and shortcomings.

39. Don’t get bored in relationships.
    Engage and motivate people rather than complain and compare.

40. So-called Islamic clerics say if someone is Muslim, depression can’t happen; it’s the production of Shaitan or evil, those statements doesn’t have solid base. Lots of prophets were depressed during their life span, including our beloved Prophet Mohammed (SAW). Also, there are some sayings or Kushanksker available that Jin poses on someone. We believe in Jin as a Muslim, but some people take some advantage.
    Qulbul Selim and never tell a lie, the final two words that can make you different, Allah SWT placed them into the highest place in Jannah.

Evidence-Based Treatments and Recovery

There are also some ongoing innovations in evidence-based treatments, including medications, therapy, and psychosocial services—such as psychiatric rehabilitation, housing assistance, employment programs, and peer support—recovery and wellness are more achievable than ever for individuals living with mental health conditions.

One of the most important steps in the recovery journey is identifying the right combination of treatments and supports that work for you. There is no universal solution—treatment is not one-size-fits-all. Even individuals with the same diagnosis may have vastly different experiences, needs, goals, and treatment preferences.

When individuals take an active role in shaping their own treatment plans—defining recovery goals, selecting supportive services, and regularly reviewing progress—both the quality of care and overall outcomes tend to improve.

A wide range of tools can support and enhance the journey to recovery, including:

• Medications that help manage symptoms

• Therapy, which may involve learning stress reduction strategies or reshaping thought patterns

• Social support, including encouragement and acceptance from family, friends, and peers

• Education on managing mental health alongside other medical conditions

Each of these elements can provide valuable insight, skills, and support to help individuals live more empowered, fulfilling lives.

By working collaboratively with a trusted treatment team, you can develop a comprehensive, person-centered recovery plan. This may include therapy, medication, peer support groups, psychoeducation, and other tailored strategies that reflect your individual strengths and needs.

Recovery is not only possible—it’s personal.
With the right supports in place, wellness is within reach.