General Ptsd And Ramadan

[technigirl]

Just something I was thinking about lately...I don't know if I mentioned this before, but my ex-friend is a Muslim. The past few weeks they have been fasting for Ramadan. I'm curious what effect the Ramadan fasting might have on a sufferer (and yes, I do realize it's mostly academic at this point since I don't talk to him anymore). They can't eat or drink anything from sunrise to sundown, and they must abstain from smoking and other "bad" behaviors (my friend is a heavy smoker). From a sufferer perspective, would a month of that have any impact on you outside of the impact it would have on a "normal" person?

 

[The Albatross]

If this is an ex-friend what is the reason behind this post? Curiosity in a supporter thread? If it's academic ask an Imam.

 

[Peach]

@The Albatross Why would some random Imam have any knowledge on the effect of Ramadan on PTSD? Technigirl was a supporter, they're on the outs right now - maybe forever, maybe not. Seems as good a place as any to post her question.

I would imagine that hours of improper nutrition and having to forego cigarettes would have a big impact on him.

Not being able to smoke can make you cranky, depressed, ramps up anxiety, increases appetite, headaches, cramps, etc. All of which would normally be cause to grab a smoke!

Couple that with now also having to cut out food and drink, unless you became nauseous from lack of nicotine, you've got some of the same symptoms like being agitated, headaches, etc. Others could include low blood sugar, low blood pressure, atypical heart rhythms, lack of energy, it could cause existing conditions to flare up. And here's a real kicker - "fasting could impair the body's ability to absorb certain medications or even alter drug interactions in the body."

If you're not feeling well physically, you're probably not going to be in a great place mentally, and with PTSD, it's a month of exacerbating an already difficult position.

 

[technigirl]

@The Albatross - I said "academic" because though my friend and I are no longer speaking (his choice, not mine), I'd like to understand for my own knowledge. When someone shuts you out completely, I think it's normal to try and process that and understand why. It occurred to me that as all of it occurred right over Ramadan, that could have something to do with it. I don't have any expectations, but I WAS his friend and supporter for a year or so. Although in many respects I've let go of it, I am also still trying to process the loss. An imam would not be any help as this is not a question about Islam, but a question on how someone with a particular mental illness might be affected by the physical stress of Ramadan.

@Peach - Thank you for the thoughtful response, it makes sense. Ramadan is a physical kind of stress, although I'm not a smoker I can imagine the sudden withdrawal wouldn't be pleasant. Might seem weird that I'm still thinking about this, but I really am just trying to process it so I can truly leave it behind me.

 

[Peach]

Might seem weird that I'm still thinking about this, but I really am just trying to process it so I can truly leave it behind me.

I don't think it's weird at all.

 

[Friday]

Holidays tend to be stressful, regardless of what the religion is, and whether it's good stress or bad stress.

As far as how do periods of fasting affect PTSD?

- Personally, I tend to eat better during years I've observed Ramadan, because "everyone" is getting ready to eat at sundown, so it's harder to forget. There was always a bit of a fantasia. It was great good fun. I tend to forget to eat, anyway, even when my symptoms aren't up. When they are up? The anxiety makes eating a chore. It's a lot easier eating sugary dates, and sweet cream & herbaceous yogurt (great breaking fast foods) and then nibbling on spiced meats & crisp veg & iced fruits throughout the evening, a little here, a little there... Rather than sitting down and forcing myself to eat time after time after time all durn day long, after day, after day. So one adds together that I forget less often, and the foods one starts with mellows touchy tummies? Good to go.

- For other people, who get cranky & thick witted when their blood sugar drops? The opposite is true, it's harder on them.

It should be noted that people with medical conditions are not expected to fast. Diabetics, hypoglycemics, (also pregnant & nursing women, travelers, kids, etc.). The fast can be "made up" elsewhere during the year if it's temporary, or one can convert charity time into fasting time if it's a perm. thing

 

[The Albatross]

Apologies... on the reread my post was really crap. No excuses for that.

 

[Ronin]

Personally? (Holding the feast after a few years of not doing so)

I noticed my health is better, as people I'm holding it with are watching out for each other this hard, meaning I have both my health to keep checking and theirs, that gives me something to do / sense of purpose & sense of usefulness, counteracts helplessness a lot.

Same for advice I've given to others about health though: Watch out for yourself. Allah will understand, and wouldn't want you in distress as a professing of faith.

((Cough, I know this was an 'effect with a person I'm not in touch with', where it's probably 'I'd ask them, first?'. I'm crap at not turning answers into vaguely optimistic musings.))

 

[technigirl]

@The Albatross : It's alright. :)

@Cashew : I'm glad to hear that you all watch out for each other's health. That's a really nice kind of "we're all in this together" type of feeling I would think. I do think my ex-friend is pretty isolated overall and probably doesn't have anyone watching his health right now. His family is on the other side of the world, and he doesn't have a lot of close friends. He would probably say, he doesn't need anyone though. I used to watch out for him all the time, but he's not my problem anymore since he ended our friendship. Actually, I'm pretty sure that's *why* he ended it, because I asked after him a lot and showed concern for his health (mental and physical), that was actually what our last conversation was about when he abruptly blocked me from his life.