Struggling with Ibadah because of mental illness - need reassurance
Assalamu Alaikum, I hope someone here can help me understand or give me some hope. My deen has always mattered a lot to me. I used to pray all five daily prayers, wake for Tahajjud sometimes, do Istikhara when I needed it, read Qur’an regularly and keep up with istighfar. I’m not perfect, but these were my routines for years. The issue is I’ve had mental health problems since about age 10. Childhood stuff carried on into adulthood and then some adult trauma made things worse. Right now I’m in a really bad place with depression and anxiety - I’m crying a lot, shaking, feeling dissociated and overwhelmed most days. I end up vomiting or retching from the anxiety and I know there’s no physical cause. It’s all mental. When it gets like this, I can’t hold on to my faith the way I used to. Not because I don’t want Allah, but because the depression and panic take over my mind and body. I can only pray when I’m emotionally stable. When I’m in that pain I can’t make myself pray no matter how hard I try. I know others find solace in prayer during hard times, but for me it becomes almost impossible. While this is happening I panic about the akhira. I’m terrified I’m sinning and that I’ll be punished for missing prayers. I don’t want to displease Allah, I really don’t. I’m just so overwhelmed and mentally unwell. My question: Does Islam recognise mental illness like depression, trauma and severe anxiety as a real medical struggle or disability? If someone is so unwell that they can’t pray, is that considered a valid excuse the way physical sickness is? Will Allah forgive me? I need reassurance that this isn’t just laziness or disrespect, and that Allah is merciful and knows when a person is genuinely struggling. I don’t mean to be this way. Sometimes I lose my way and can’t find my way back to Allah. This time it’s been three months and I’m ashamed to admit it. I’m forcing myself daily but failing. I’m not trying to make excuses for skipping prayers; I’m genuinely scared of the consequences and want to understand my situation better. Any personal experiences, advice or Islamic guidance would mean a lot. JazakAllah khair.