Knowledge Baseعلمی معلومات

What it is. Mental health conditions are medical conditions, like diabetes or heart disease. They are not a sign of weak faith, a punishment, or the work of jinn. Islam and medicine go together: seeking treatment is a responsible step, and faith can be a source of strength during recovery.

Common misunderstandings.

• "It is weak iman." People of strong faith also develop mental health conditions. Faith and treatment support each other.
• "It is jinn or black magic." Hearing voices, fixed unusual beliefs or sudden changes in behaviour are recognised symptoms of treatable medical conditions.
• "It will bring shame on the family." Care is private and confidential, and seeking help protects the whole family's wellbeing.
• "Men should be strong and not seek help." Men develop these conditions too; seeking help is a sign of strength.

Getting help. Only a qualified psychiatrist or clinical psychologist can assess, diagnose and treat a mental health condition. ASPI provides respectful care that honours each person's faith and values. Book an appointment at alsyedpsy.com/book or call ASPI on +92 21 34610777.

What it is. Mental health care is given by two main kinds of qualified professional, and they often work together.

• Psychiatrist: a medical doctor who specialises in mental health. A psychiatrist can assess and diagnose conditions, prescribe and monitor medical treatment, and manage more severe or complex illness, including care in hospital.
• Clinical psychologist: a trained specialist in the mind and behaviour. A clinical psychologist can carry out psychological assessments and provides talking therapies that help people understand and change patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving.

Types of care.

• Outpatient care: regular appointments while living at home, for most conditions.
• Inpatient care: a stay in hospital when someone needs closer support and supervision for a time.
• Family involvement: with the person's agreement, family members can join appointments and learn how to help.

What a first visit involves. The specialist listens to the person's concerns, asks about their health, history and daily life, and discusses what may help. Everything shared is kept confidential.

Getting help. Not sure whom to see first? ASPI's team can guide you to the right specialist. Book an appointment at alsyedpsy.com/book or call ASPI on +92 21 34610777.

What it is. In Pakistan, families are often the first to notice that something is wrong and the ones who arrange care. Their support makes a real difference to recovery.

Signs that a relative may need help. Lasting changes in mood, sleep or appetite; withdrawing from family and friends; falling behind at work or studies; unusual beliefs or behaviour; or increased use of alcohol or drugs.

How families can help.

• Listen without judging: let the person speak, and take their feelings seriously.
• Use respectful words: avoid labels and avoid blaming the person or their faith.
• Encourage professional help: offer to book or come along to the first appointment.
• Respect privacy: seeking care is a private, dignified choice, not a matter of family honour.
• Look after yourself: caring for a relative is demanding; carers deserve support too.

Getting help. Only a qualified psychiatrist or clinical psychologist can assess, diagnose and treat a mental health condition. ASPI welcomes families to take part in care. Book an appointment at alsyedpsy.com/book or call ASPI on +92 21 34610777.

What it is. Bipolar disorder is a health condition that causes clear shifts in mood, energy, activity and concentration. A person has periods of very high or irritable mood and, at other times, periods of low mood, often with ordinary periods in between.

Types of episode.

• Mania: an extremely high, elated or irritable mood with much more energy and activity, little need for sleep, racing thoughts, fast speech and risky or impulsive behaviour.
• Hypomania: similar to mania but milder; others may notice it, but it disrupts daily life less.
• Depressive episode: deep sadness or emptiness, low energy, poor concentration, sleep changes and hopelessness.
• Mixed features: signs of mania and depression at the same time.

Main types.

• Bipolar I disorder: manic episodes lasting at least seven days (or severe enough to need hospital care), usually with depressive episodes as well.
• Bipolar II disorder: depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes, without full mania.
• Cyclothymic disorder: repeated, milder ups and downs over at least two years that do not reach full episodes.

Treatment. Effective treatment exists. With treatment, education about the condition and family support, people with bipolar disorder can manage their moods and live full lives. Early care matters.

Getting help. Only a qualified psychiatrist or clinical psychologist can assess, diagnose and treat bipolar disorder. To speak with ASPI's specialists, book an appointment at alsyedpsy.com/book or call ASPI on +92 21 34610777.

What it is. OCD is a health condition in which a person has unwanted, repeated thoughts (obsessions) and feels driven to repeat certain actions (compulsions). The person usually knows these are excessive but cannot control them, and they take up a lot of time, often more than an hour a day. It usually begins between late childhood and young adulthood.

Common signs.

• Obsessions: fear of dirt or germs, fear of losing control or causing harm, a strong need for things to be exact or symmetrical, and unwanted disturbing thoughts.
• Compulsions: excessive washing or cleaning, repeated checking (locks, stove, switches), arranging things in a precise order, counting, and repeating actions until they feel "right".

Related conditions.

• Body dysmorphic disorder: constant worry about a perceived flaw in appearance that others hardly notice.
• Hoarding disorder: great difficulty discarding possessions, leading to clutter that disrupts the home.
• Hair-pulling disorder (trichotillomania): repeated pulling out of one's own hair.
• Skin-picking disorder (excoriation): repeated picking at the skin.
• Perinatal OCD: OCD that starts or worsens during pregnancy or in the year after birth, often with distressing unwanted worries about the baby's safety and repeated checking, cleaning or reassurance-seeking.
• Tic disorders: sudden repeated movements or sounds; these sometimes occur together with OCD.

Treatment. OCD is treatable, especially with specialised talking therapy, and many people gain good control of their symptoms.

Getting help. Only a qualified psychiatrist or clinical psychologist can assess, diagnose and treat OCD and related disorders. To speak with ASPI's specialists, book an appointment at alsyedpsy.com/book or call ASPI on +92 21 34610777.

What it is. Sleep disorders are health conditions that affect how well, how long or when a person sleeps, leaving them tired or unable to function well during the day. Poor sleep is often linked with mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, and each can make the other worse.

Main types.

• Insomnia: trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or waking too early, on most nights.
• Hypersomnia and narcolepsy: extreme sleepiness during the day despite enough sleep at night.
• Sleep apnoea: breathing stops and starts repeatedly during sleep, often with loud snoring and daytime tiredness.
• Restless legs syndrome: uncomfortable feelings in the legs with a strong urge to move them, mostly in the evening.
• Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders: the body clock is out of step with normal hours, for example with shift work or jet lag.
• Parasomnias: unusual behaviour during sleep, such as sleepwalking, sleep talking, night terrors or nightmares.

Treatment. Most sleep disorders can be treated, and better sleep often helps mood and daily life too.

Getting help. Sleep problems can have physical or mental health causes. A qualified psychiatrist or clinical psychologist can assess sleep problems linked to mental health and arrange further tests where needed. To speak with ASPI's specialists, book an appointment at alsyedpsy.com/book or call ASPI on +92 21 34610777.

What it is. A substance use disorder is a health condition in which a person keeps using alcohol or drugs even though it is harming their health, family, work or studies. It ranges from mild to moderate to severe. Addiction is a medical condition, not a moral failing, and families play an important part in recovery.

Common signs. Using more than planned; finding it hard to cut down or stop; strong cravings; needing more to get the same effect (tolerance); feeling unwell when stopping (withdrawal); and giving up family, work or other activities because of use.

Main types.

• Alcohol use disorder.
• Opioid use disorder: including heroin.
• Stimulant use disorder: including "ice" (crystal methamphetamine).
• Cannabis use disorder: including charas.
• Tobacco and nicotine dependence: including cigarettes, naswar, gutka and vaping.
• Sedative misuse: using prescription calming or sleeping medicines without a doctor's direction.
• Inhalant use: sniffing glue, paint thinner or similar products.
• Hallucinogen use: substances that change perception, such as LSD.
• Behavioural addictions: such as gambling disorder and gaming disorder, where a behaviour rather than a substance takes over a person's life.

Linked conditions. Substance use disorders often occur together with depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder, and treating both together works best.

Treatment. Substance use disorders are treatable. Care can include supervised withdrawal (detox), talking therapies, family support and longer-term recovery programmes.

Getting help. Only a qualified psychiatrist or clinical psychologist can assess, diagnose and treat substance use disorders. ASPI provides outpatient and inpatient care. To speak with ASPI's specialists, book an appointment at alsyedpsy.com/book or call ASPI on +92 21 34610777.

What it is. Schizophrenia is a health condition that affects how a person thinks, feels, behaves and experiences reality. It affects about 1 in 300 people worldwide and is usually first diagnosed between the ages of 16 and 30. These experiences are symptoms of a medical condition, not the work of jinn or a sign of weak faith.

Symptom groups.

• Psychotic symptoms: hearing or seeing things others do not (hallucinations), fixed beliefs not based in reality (delusions), and confused thinking or speech.
• Negative symptoms: loss of motivation, withdrawing from people, reduced emotional expression and difficulty with daily tasks.
• Cognitive symptoms: problems with attention, concentration and memory.

Related conditions.

• Schizoaffective disorder: symptoms of schizophrenia together with major mood episodes (depression or mania).
• Schizophreniform disorder: schizophrenia-like symptoms that last more than one month but less than six months.
• Brief psychotic disorder: a sudden episode of psychosis that lasts less than one month.
• Delusional disorder: one or more fixed false beliefs, with daily functioning otherwise often preserved.

Treatment. Effective care exists. At least one in three people with schizophrenia recover fully, and treatment helps many others study, work, live independently and keep close relationships. Family support and early care make a real difference; stigma is one of the biggest barriers.

Getting help. Only a qualified psychiatrist or clinical psychologist can assess, diagnose and treat these conditions. To speak with ASPI's specialists, book an appointment at alsyedpsy.com/book or call ASPI on +92 21 34610777.

What it is. Depression is a common health condition that affects mood, thinking, sleep, energy and daily life. It is different from ordinary sadness or a hard week. It is not a weakness of character or of faith.

Common signs. Low mood, or loss of interest and pleasure in usual activities, on most days for at least two weeks. Other signs can include tiredness, poor sleep or sleeping too much, changes in appetite, trouble concentrating, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, and hopelessness.

Main types.

• Major depression (major depressive disorder): depressed mood or loss of interest most of the time for at least two weeks, affecting daily life. It can be mild, moderate or severe, and can happen once or come back.
• Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia): milder symptoms that last for at least two years.
• Perinatal depression: depression during pregnancy or after childbirth. It is more than the short-lived "baby blues".
• Seasonal pattern (seasonal affective disorder): depression that comes and goes with the seasons, often in winter.
• Depression with psychosis: a severe form in which a person also has hallucinations or fixed false beliefs.
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD): a severe form of premenstrual symptoms, with marked mood changes in the week or two before a period.
• Perimenopausal depression: low mood, irritability and anxiety during the menopause transition.
• Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD): in children and young people, severe, repeated temper outbursts far beyond the situation, with ongoing irritability in between.

Treatment. Effective treatment exists for mild, moderate and severe depression, and many people recover fully.

Getting help. Only a qualified psychiatrist or clinical psychologist can assess, diagnose and treat depression. To speak with ASPI's specialists, book an appointment at alsyedpsy.com/book or call ASPI on +92 21 34610777.

What it is. Everyone feels worried or nervous at times. An anxiety disorder is a health condition in which fear and worry are intense, hard to control, and get in the way of family life, work or study. Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions.

Common signs. Constant worry, a racing heart, sweating, trembling, restlessness, irritability, muscle tension, poor sleep and trouble concentrating.

Main types.

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): hard-to-control worry about many everyday matters on most days for at least six months, with signs such as restlessness, tiredness, poor sleep and muscle tension.
• Panic disorder: repeated, sudden waves of intense fear (panic attacks) with a pounding heart, breathlessness or dizziness, and ongoing worry about the next attack.
• Social anxiety disorder: strong fear of being judged or embarrassed in social situations; more than ordinary shyness.
• Specific phobias: intense fear of a particular object or situation, such as heights, flying, injections or certain animals.
• Agoraphobia: fear of places or situations where escape or help may be hard, such as crowds, markets or public transport.
• Separation anxiety disorder: excessive fear of being apart from close family, seen in children and also in adults.
• Selective mutism: a child who speaks normally at home does not speak in certain social settings, such as school, usually beginning before age five.

Treatment. Effective treatment exists for anxiety disorders, yet most people who need help do not receive it, often because of stigma.

Getting help. Only a qualified psychiatrist or clinical psychologist can assess, diagnose and treat an anxiety disorder. To speak with ASPI's specialists, book an appointment at alsyedpsy.com/book or call ASPI on +92 21 34610777.