Thankfully, her husband, after training as an apprentice with his brother-in-law, was able to open his own shop. Although it didn’t stop Rahima’s anxiety, it did bring them a more stable income. Until disaster struck.
A devastating fire broke out, which burnt his shop to the ground. All the stock – their entire investment – was destroyed. Rahima’s father was a security guard in the market where the shop was located. Her husband became suspicious, believing Rahima’s father had deliberately started the fire. Or that he hadn’t acted to stop it. This false belief started to tear Rahima’s marriage apart.
As revenge on her father, Rahima’s husband married a second wife. By now, Rahima had two children of her own to care for. For their sake, she stuck with her husband. She felt trapped. The tension built until her husband decided to divorce her, despite Rahima carrying their third child.
After the separation, Rahima was not allowed to see her children. This was devastating, and she started to experience memory problems as well as anxiety and compulsive behaviour. She felt her mind slipping away. When she prayed, Rahima would lose her place and repeat the same phrases many times. The suffering she endured had left her broken, and Rahima lost all motivation for life.
Rahima’s story is not uncommon in Afghanistan. Decades of war, deep poverty, and crushing restrictions have the country facing a massive, often invisible, crisis. Half of the population are suffering from mental health issues, and women and young people are hit hardest.
Getting support and treatment is not easy. Mental health clinics and trained professionals are rare, particularly in remote areas. Deep social stigma means people often suffer alone. Families can’t afford medicine, and people suffering find it hard to find jobs, leading to regular relapses.
Rahima finds the support she needs to rebuild her life
But, just as she reached rock bottom, Rahima found the help she desperately needed. A neighbour who had been through similar problems told her about the community mental health centre that had helped her.
Rahima started attending counselling sessions at the Tearfund-supported Mental Health Inclusion Project in Jebrael. ‘I listened carefully to the counsellor's words and tried to implement her advice correctly,’ she says. ‘By doing this, I gradually started to feel better day by day. A positive feeling, which I call hope, began to grow within me.’
The counselling effectively treated the anxiety and forgetfulness, using cognitive therapy, stress management and physical activities. The sessions provided a supportive environment where Rahima could talk through her feelings.
‘Rahima could not suppress her emotions or hold back tears,’ her counsellor says. ‘She had suffered extensive psychological and physical harm under immense pressure from multiple problems and deep sorrow.
'Even though Rahima faced many challenges and obstacles, she showed perseverance, which was truly admirable. She attended counselling sessions regularly. She listened carefully to the guidance given and tried her best to apply it in her life.
‘She consistently showed a readiness to cooperate with the counsellor to improve her personal situation, putting in every effort to achieve this. She actively participated in her treatment and recovery process.’
