How I Stopped Anxiety From Ruling My World

Photo by Madison Oren on Unsplash

After trying SO MANY different things, I went from borderline debilitating anxiety—a hovering and nauseating worry I couldn’t shake—to no worries at all—anxiety free. It does creep up here and there sometimes, but it goes away rather quickly. The only thing that helped me after years of trying various remedies is: daily adkaar—remembrance of Allah.

I would take my tusbah/misbaha (prayer beads), every morning and night and anytime my anxiety got triggered, and uttered words of remembrance until I felt a calm wash over me and my anxiety subsided. I developed a relationship with each remembrance:

أَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطٰانِ الرَّجِيْمِ

a'oothu billahi min ash-shaytaani ar-rajeem

I seek refuge in Allah from the outcast satan

Oh Allah, protect me from the shaytan and his anxiety inducing whispers

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

bismillahi ar-rahmaani ar-raheem

In the name of Allah–the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful

Oh Allah, I begin all matters in Your name, please bless my words and my actions

سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ

subhanAllah

Glory be to Allah

Oh Allah, I declare Your perfection; Your are glorified and exalted.

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ‎

Alhamdulilaah

All praise and gratitude belongs to Allah

Oh Allah, everything praises You, I thank You for everything I had, have, and will have.

الله أكبر

Allahu Akbar

Allah is greater

Oh Allah, You are greater, You are greater than my fears, You are greater than my sadness.

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ

laa ilaaha illAllah

There's none worthy of worship except Allah

Oh Allah, I declare Your oneness, only You deserve my servitude, worship and obedience.

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّٰهَ‎

Asthaghfirullah

I seek forgiveness from Allah

Oh Allah, I repent to you and turn to you. Permanently remove my sins, mistakes, and shortcomings. 

I would distract my anxious mind by pondering over these blessed phrases, and the relief was instant. Moreover, I felt substantial benefits after about 30 days of consistently doing adkaar. My life changed and I am a wholehearted believer and convinced of the ayah: 13:28, because I witnessed it in my own life. 

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ ٢٨

those who believe and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allah. Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find comfort. [13:28]

Changes I Noticed From Daily Adkaar

I felt a calm that I don’t remember experiencing in recent memory. I felt a stillness in my body, and I was no longer pacing and fidgeting. The intense racing of my mind subsided and I could hear my thoughts clearly and coherently. The tight grip in my chest loosened, and my breath started flowing easily. Fear and irritability slowly evaporated. I felt relaxed and in control of my emotions.

Overtime, I noticed clarity of mind and a new found confidence. I was able to articulate my thoughts, feelings and emotions precisely. My chronic migraine—that I accepted was going to be a part of my life— disappeared. Neck pain, tense shoulders and throbbing temples eased. I went from restless and exhausted to being able to achieve restful sleep, and felt rejuvenated during the day. 

Additionally, I want to mention that a byproduct of daily remembrance that I did not anticipate, is understanding and strengthening my tawakkul (trust) and confidence in Allah. I thought I had tawakkul in Allah, but in reality it was a weak tawakkul. I am convinced that there’s a connection between anxiety levels and tawakkul–our level of trust in Allah. I noticed when my tawakkul is strong, my anxiety is non-existent, but when my anxiety is through the roof, my tawakkul in Allah is very weak. 

I’ve read so many materials and listened to so many lectures about the virtues and benefits of adkaar, but it wasn’t until I started to consistently and actively implement it in my life that I noticed a huge difference. I knew about the benefits, but I did not fully internalize it. There’s a difference between knowing something versus internalizing something. To internalize something is to have an inward directed and deeper form of understanding of said something. 

Being On The Other Side Of Anxiety 

This is my sincere testimony about how adkaar healed me and changed my life—in addition to lifestyle alterations which is crucial. If anxiety is ruining your life, and you struggle with panic attacks, you experience physical pain induced by anxiety, excessive rumination, stuck in worst-case-scenario mode, anxiety induced insomnia, extreme fidgeting, feeling overwhelmed and drained,  etc.—start including adkaar to your daily regimen to help lessen and completely lift your anxiety. 

Furthermore, eating meals with adequate nutrition, getting good quality sleep, moving your body,  not consuming anxiety inducing content (i.e. news), avoiding or putting boundaries with certain types of people who trigger your anxiety, and lastly addressing the root causes of your anxiety—ALL do wonders for your wellbeing and for overcoming your anxiety. Also be aware of numbing activities that you may be using to ease your anxiety–they are often short-lived and can turn into bad habits quickly. 

Sometimes you will suffer for a period until you arrive at certain conclusions that will potentially change your life for the better. One day it just clicked for me, when Allah is not front and center in my life, all hell breaks loose–utter pandemonium. When I try to make Allah front and center in my life–I find peace and calm; I feel safe and secure even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. A feeling no drug can give, but delivered straight from the Divine. 

Many people live with crippling anxiety like I once did, and by Allah’s permission, guidance and mercy I was able to overcome it. The journey to peace and stillness was long, frustrating and nonlinear with various detours to temporary remedies. However I had to go through what I needed to go through to learn valuable lessons, and I am grateful. Ultimately it is Allah who heals all that ails us, and He is the Creator of the means by which we use for healing.   

I pray you overcome your struggle with anxiety, and sweet peace descends in your life and stays with you.