I have been fasting for over 15 years. Only in the last 5 have I really struggled.

I keep thinking that it’s because I’m too weak in my faith and willpower. But this year, the penny dropped.

There are exceptions to fasting. You don’t fast if you are unwell, dependent on certain medications, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding etc etc. One thing that occurred to me; people often focus on physical health, but what about mental health?

I’m not a scholar, or highly educated in Islam, but I know my foundations.

Islam says if you are unwell, and fasting makes your health worse, you don’t have to do it. It’s so simple. For some people, maybe too simple.

So I wonder if there is a mental health stigma in the Muslim communities regarding fasting and Ramadan. In the West and my generation, we are becoming more accepting and understanding of mental health problems. But there is the generation gap, or the not-as-knowledgeable people who would be quick to criticise; to say ‘it’s all in your head (duh!) that you can’t fast’, ‘it’s mind over matter’, ‘ maybe you have weak Imaan’ (faith) or even ‘you just need to try harder, dear’.

Just to be clear, nothing of this sort has happened to me – yet. But it’s one of the many conversations I have with myself (when my mind becomes my enemy).

The reason for me voicing this – we all struggle, and it’s good to know you are not alone. You can still be a Muslim and be depressed, have anxiety, PTSD, feel suicidal and lots of other mental health issues.

So from now on, I’ll be telling myself (when my mind is my friend that is) that I am not weak in faith and willpower. My belief is that Allah swt knows whats going on in my head and it’s knock-on effect (damn anxiety), He is the All-Knower and Most Merciful.

Let’s never forget that.