I feel like my death is near, and it’s really scary
Lately I've been having this feeling like the death angel is about to show up and take my soul and it's really scary. This happens everyday, and I don't like it.
I've been having chest pain and have anxiety attacks. Is this my anxiety? is it shaytan?
I've also had a dream that I was at an abandoned grave-yard and there was a monster possessed by shaytan and I killed the monster. So the shaytan that possessed the monster started running after me. I ran out of the grave-yard and the shaytan can't leave the grave-yard so I escaped. And this dream has been bothering me alongside my thoughts.
So again is this just my anxiety or shaytan or what? Does my dream mean anything or is it from the shaytan? is all this the doing of the shaytan, my anxiety, or is it a warning? It's really really really bothering me.
p.s: I was on my time of the month when I had the dream. I don't know if it makes a difference, but I thought it might.
- Tala
Hi Tala,
I am a Psychotherapist and I can tell that this is just a dream which was a result of your daytime anxiety. You seem to be having thoughts of death which definitely makes you very anxious. Our dreams are often often made up of stuff that we either experience or mostly think about during the day.
This thought of expecting death Angel to show up is just anxiety as most definitely there is something in your life which is disturbing for you and your mind is focusing on making up thoughts which trigger anxiety. This is not the Shayatan but your own made up thoughts. I would suggest you see a therapist which will help you with your anxiety and this will have an affect on your entire wellbeing. Goodluck!
Thank you very much for your reply. Just reading this and knowing what is causing it made me relaxed. Hope you have a great day.
I’ve recently had another dream in which my dad wanted me to marry my cousin- I wasn’t told which one- and I was upset about it so I went to my room, got ready, and then before we left to go to the ceremony I ran away with my brothers and mom to my grand mothers house. In my dream I was never on my way to my groom or wedding.
I read somewhere that if a girl sees herself in a dream that she is on her way to her groom but doesn’t make it or wasn’t able to reach him, her death is near, but in my dream it’s not that I was unable to reach him, I purposely avoided my wedding my running away with my mom and siblings, so it’s different, at least I think so.
My dream is different than the interpretation I read online, right? It’s just my thoughts and anxiety trying to convince me otherwise, right?
I was, yet again, on my tome of the month when I had my dream. Does have an interpretation or is it just a dream if many others? It’s also been bothering me.
Fearful I will not see my family again
Asalamualaykum Tala,
You write that you were menstruating. That very possibly triggered these thoughts or the magnitude of them, as our period or "time of the month" often amplifies whatever it is that we are most anxious about at the time. Like it just blows everything out of proportion. Sometimes it's good because it draws attention to something we need to work on or focus on, but sometimes it's just plain creativity of the brain.
🙂
Nor
IslamicAnswers
Thank you very much for your fast reply. I just wanted to point out that the dream happened on my time of the month, but the thoughts still happens even without my menstruation. But again thank you for explaining that it’s my anxiety.
Tala,
Yup! No problem 🙂
Nor
IslamicAnswers
Hello,
I wanted to tell you that the thoughts calmed down a little, but then again I started thinking about death. Like i'll be like "why buy that shoes? I might die" and it's been make me super anxious. My family is going to install an Ice rink in the house, but I keep thinking " will I even be alive?"
Any help on how to calm these thoughts down? I keep thinking "are these thoughts really from me?" Like what if it's a warning.
any help?
Thank you.
-Tala
Hello,
A while after this post I got control over my anxiety and thoughts, but then 2 weeks ago I got the thought that I am going to die on September 2nd and I don’t know what to do about it. For the first week. I got anxiety attack almost everyday and would cry about it. Now on the third week. I’ve calmed down a little and they aren’t as intense. Before I was 100% sure I was going to die on September 2nd, but now I just worry thinking “what if it’s real, and I’m gonna die”. I’m not as convinced as before but I still worry especially because it’s really close and I’m not sure if it’s real or not. Any help with this problem? Is it real? Or do I ignore it? There is no such thing in Islam as knowing the time of death 1 month prior, right?
Asalamualaykum Tala,
You write: "Any help with this problem? Is it real? Or do I ignore it? There is no such thing in Islam as knowing the time of death 1 month prior, right?"
You are correct...no one knows the time of death one month prior because nobody can foretell the future. That knowledge is only with Allah.
You say you were diagnosed with anxiety. What was the prescription for this? Therapy? Medication? What did the doctor tell you to do? Because it sounds like you are still having extreme anxiety and are not being treated.
I was once in the hospital, and I was convinced that my parents had both been killed. I had made up an entire story in my head of how this happened by someone I knew. I thought that it was all going to come back to me and that it was my fault that my parents were dead, and I was imagining that I was in a court of law. It wasn't until a nurse showed up by my side, may Allah bless her, and assured me that my parents were still alive, that I got a little relief. Now when you read this story of mine, what are you thinking? Don't you feel like there is seriously something wrong and a reason that I am being examined by the doctors? Don't you think they are there to help me with whatever means Allah has made available to them?
Point is, you need to go back to your doctor because these thoughts of yours are not normal. It is obsessive and pathological at this point as it has been going on for several months and is causing you distress. The "distress" part is critical. If you were able to just brush aside these thoughts and not read into them, that would be different. But you are suffering. So try to put your concerns on hold until you have seen the doctor, and have explained to him or her exactly what you have been experiencing.
Inshallah this time in your life, these intense fears, will become a thing of the past with the proper treatment. Just be honest and open with your struggles to Allah in your salah and in your duas, and to the doctors during your visit, and everything will be fine.
Hugs,
Nor
IslamicAnswers
Hello,
I was diagnosed by a mental health provided in the ER because when I got my first anxiety attack, I thought I was having a heart attack and when I whet it the doctor and they examined my heart, did blood tests, and noticed that everything was normal and healthy. Except of course my mental health. She asked me questions looked into my history and ruled out that it is most likely anxiety. I was prescribed medication, but taking it made me feel worse and didn’t help at all so I was told to stop and go to a therapist, but it’s very expensive and my family can’t afford it. You also know how Arab families are towards mental health. They don’t take it seriously and thing that it’s a phase and will go away.
My thoughts usually go away once I get assurance that it’s from my anxiety and that I’m not going to die. I don’t have a problem with death, but would rather have no warning about it. That is why I’m nervous about September 2nd. But since you told me it’s fine, I’ll try not to worry.
I’m better now, I’m trying to convert myself that it’s nothing and September 2nd is going to be a normal day and it will pass, but you know, a little worry had to stay. Insha’Allah I get better.
Thank you for your reply.
Tala,
If you feel that you have a handle on it and are no longer worried that you will die September 2, then all the more power to you and I hope that continues, Inshallah. 🙂
But for future reference should you need it, if they gave you a prescription for medication and it made you feel worse, that doesn't necessarily mean that you shouldn't be taking medication...it only means that this was not the right medication for you. They don't yet have a way to scan the brain and tell exactly what chemicals are needed and will be tolerated, so it's still a trial-and-error process. If you get worse again and are not managing, please keep in mind that you may have to try several different medications before you find one that is comfortable for you.
Also, have you been saying any of the duas for healing from illness and distress? Here are a few, which you may already know:
1.Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-hammi wal-Huzni wal-'ajazi wal-kasli wal-bukhli wal-jubni wa dala'id-dayni wa ghalabatir rijal
Oh Allah, I take refuge in you from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being overpowered by men.
2. Allahumma rabb an-nas, adh-hab al-ba'sa, ashfi wa anta ash- shafi, la shifa'a illa shifa'uka shifa la yughadiru saqaman
Oh Allah, Lord of Mankind, remove the illness, cure the disease, you are the one who cures. There is no cure except your cure. Grant us a cure that leaves no illness (hand should be placed on part of body that aches, in this case the head)
3. A'udhu bi'izzati Allahi wa qudratihi mimma ajidu wa uhadir
I seek refuge and protection in Allah's might and power from the pain and illness I am suffering from and I am so gravely afraid of and may he deliver me from this pain and Inshallah he will in no time, in the blink of an eye.
4. Oh Allah I seek refuge with you from cowardice and I seek refuge in you from being placed in a mentally-deficient state!
Try those, and enjoy your ice time!!
Nor
IslamicAnswers
Hello,
Thank you for your help.
It’s not that it’s gone, it better and I can ignore it and continue my day normally and not worry about it. But I’m a little scared that I am going to die and that I ignored the warning I got, but since you told me that there is no such thing. It must be my anxiety and obsessive thought so I’ll try my utmost best to relax like I do now in September 2nd and not think about it. Insha’Allah nothing is going to happen and the day will pass peacefully.
Hello again,
I had a dream about September 2nd and it made me feel bad. It was that I was waiting for 5:00 pm that day to pass so I can relax and 5 pm came it and passed safely and I was happy about it. But I know happiness in a dream means sadness and sorrow in real life and that because the day(5 pm in dream) passed safely it will be the opposite in real life. so I got anxious again and I can’t stop thinking about it now. Is it real or should I ignore these thoughts? Does the 5 pm symbolize anything? It got me anxious as I think of it as a sign that 5 pm is when I will die.
Tala,
There is no significance to September 2nd or to 5:00. I can say that with 99% certainty. If your condition is such that you are now going to focus on that 1% off-chance, that's your anxiety again. Speaking of which, just because it's anxiety or obsessive thinking causing it, it doesn't mean you should ignore it. You should address the anxiety. I want to add that what you are experiencing could be a repetitive unwanted thought (as in OCD) or even a delusion, as you are convinced of something that doesnt have basis in reality. Either way, you should visit a psychiatrist for a proper diagnosis, because this is causing you distress and is recurring. I understand that your family is not understanding of mental health conditions, but you owe it to yourself and Allah to get relief and treatment so that you can function and fulfill Allah's plan for you in this life.
Hugs,
Nor
IslamicAnswers
Hello,
Thank you for your advice.
I’ll try my best to not panic when I see September 2nd approaching, and will try not to think about it.
I would lob to get help, but I can’t as I don’t have control over my life. I am still a high school student, so I don’t make money to take myself there or can drive myself. I’m not n a position where I can take control of my own life, as a result I have to listen to my parents.
As you told me, and may others did too, September 2nd has no significance or meaning and I shouldn’t worry about it, so I’ll try to do that. Insha’Allah all will be good and later on I’ll be able to look at this and laugh for believing in such nonsense.
🙂
Hello,
The 2nd of September is in 2 days for me. (I’m in the US). I am getting more anxious as it draws near and whenever something comes up that is going to happen after it for example school is in September 8th, I think/say “ hopefully I’ll be alive by then” or “I’ll probably be dead by then” It makes me anxious. It like I know I’ll be dead, but not sure. It just confusing.
These thoughts are happening because I’m worried about September 2nd, but the don’t mean that I’ll actually be dead, am I right? This is all just pure nonsense in my mind, right?
Well, not like I know I’ll be dead 100% but I just feel nervous about it. Like I might be dead and not get to go to school and do what I always do. So I don’t have a feeling that I’m going to die like before, I’m worried that I’m going to die. I’m not sure about it or sense it. Just thoughts and worrying that my past feeling that I was going to die is actually true, but I ignored it and don’t believe it anymore.
Assalamu alaykum Tala, do you still experience this fear? Or have you found a way to control it? If so minding sharing what you did.
Salaamu Alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh
Aoo'thu billahi minish shaytanir rajeem
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem
Oh, dear sister also try to ask someone of knowledge about your
dream and concern. Allah know when it's our time.
In shaa Allah increase in optional Salah,or Dhikr or reading Qur'an
and make sure you at least fast you make up days for Ramadan. Do
Astighfir'Allah and put your trust in Allah(Subhana a Ta'la)
In shaa Allah listen to good Islamic lectures, recite
Al-Fatihah, Quls, Ayatul Kursi and last 2 Ayat of Surah Al Baqarah.
Allah doesn't put on us more than we can bear.
In shaa Allah here is a lecture I would like to
share with you. May Allah bless you with Sakinah,
forgive you, have mercy on you and draw you closer to
Him. Even if it's shaytan wanting to scare you, your best protector is Allah.
Asalamualaikum so I was reading about Tala and her panic attacks what really happened after did she message bck
Hi Isha are you feeling the same? I’ve been dealing with this for 6 months eversince my friend passed away. She was 28 years old. 🙁
Hello Isha,
I am glad to tell you that I am way over this and living my life almost as normally as before. I have a stronger mindset now, with stronger control over myself. Thank you for your concern! Alhamdulilallah that I get over it.
-Tala
Salaamu Alaikum
Here's there lecture
https://youtu.be/N5nry0lyEE0
Thank you so much for being helpful to me during this time.
assalamu alaikom
i can relate to you since ive became a hypochondriac almost two years ago, it started in december 2018 andi always thought i wouldn't make it to 2019 and that id die from a heart attack, well i lived throught it and then i get anxious about another disease, i thought i had ca**er in 2019 and was sure id not make it to 2020, now i calmed down. what i want to say is that sometimes our mind trick us into believing some stuff that will not happen, what i advice you to do is pray more, have faith in allah.
Hello,
I hope you get better and better and get over this, Insha'allah.
For me, when my anxiety started and I had my first anxiety attack I thought I was having a heart attack and went to the ER to get checked. I was convinced that I will dies soon. After getting checked and all other procedures, I was diagnosed with anxiety. I was sad, but was relaxed as I knew that my thoughts were not "signs" from allah that I am going to die and were from my anxiety. After that I started controlling it and got better and managing my thoughts, until 1 day, 2 weeks ago, I was talking to a friend about 2nd of September and for some reason I got the thought that I will die on that day which made me panic as it was still a month away! I still get scared when I think of 2nd of September as I think that I will die on it, but I tell myself not to panic about it as no one knows when they will die and it's just my anxiety, but I can't help and worry as my past fears where that I will die soon, but no date was attached to it, but this one has a date with it so I don't know if it is really my anxiety or that I will die on it. Wael from this website told me it is a fear from my thoughts, my family told me it's my anxiety and shaytan and not to pay attention to it, but I still am a little scared that it is true and that these are my last days.
our mind is very powerful and yes it can trick us into believing things that aren't true and I hope that is the case with me too. Insha'allah nothing will happen and all will be good. What do you think about it?
Insha'allah me and you will get better and get over our fears slowly.
Hi is anyone still feeling the same? I’ve been going thru this for 6 months eversince my friend died. She was 28 years old.
Hello Emma,
It has been a year since I dealt with this. I have come to terms with it, and I think because of the many exposures I had with it, it became a norm in my life where I don't even pay attention to it any more, at all! My best coping methods(may not work for you, I don't know) were long dramas, mostly Chinese or Kdrama, since they have very long episodes, around an hour each, maybe even longer, and have long-running episodes, 40-100 episodes. They allowed me to dwell on them and think about the complex plots, for most of my time. I also signed up for activities outside the house since I always get them when I am in my room with nothing else to focus on, like swimming, since focusing on the activity and my movement allowed my brain to disregard the death thoughts, and go back to the swimming instructor's feedback. Little by little, my brain was trained to stop these thoughts when they come or immediately switch or sing. I still deal with them, but they way less than before and don't affect me any more. Up until December 2020, this was a huge problem of mine, however starting from January-February, I grew out of it, thankfully.
I hope you also find copping mechanisms and distractions to help you relief your stress. If you still have questions, feel free to ask me and I will help you or explain what I went through in detail to ease your anxiety.
-Tala
Hello,
To anyone reading over my experience and curious about what happened, I have thankfully got control over my fear, thoughts, and emotions. It took me around 6 months to get it under control by myself, but in the end I did. I created coping mechanisms and distractions while also avoiding triggers. The biggest helpers to me were long shows, mostly C-dramas and K-dramas, since they have many long, long episodes and very complex plots. I allowed myself to dwell on the plots, characters, actors, interactions, etc related to the show as to distract myself from the death thoughts. I also noticed that my triggers were very calm or easy activities, for example, washing the dishes or showering at home. As a result I made sure someone was with me in the kitchen when I do the dishes, so I can talk to them, or I turn on the TV there, never in silence. I also knew that these thoughts only come to me when I am home, so I started going swimming and went to school in-person just to leave the home and expose myself to other distractions outside that my mind can focus on. By December 2020, 6 months after the initial panic attack that started it all, I started to ignore the thoughts and was mentally trained to switch thoughts from death to any random subject I can think of, and as of October 2021, this has become an involuntary action that takes place on its own, so I don't even have to try to think of something else, it automatically happens. I am pleased with the progress I have made so far.
If anyone has questions, need clarifications, or just curious, etc, feel free to ask and I will do my best to answer and help.
-Tala