Üsküdar University Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, was a live broadcast guest on the 'Ramadan at Külliye' program aired on TRT News. Tarhan reminded that the month of Ramadan is a month for embarking on an inner journey of discovery, and stated that with Ramadan, fasting provides individuals with the skill of delayed gratification and resilience. Tarhan added that fasting also biologically cleanses the body.
“The month of Ramadan is a month for embarking on an inner journey of discovery”
During the live broadcast from Külliye, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan made evaluations regarding the importance of the month of Ramadan; “The month of Ramadan is an important month for introspection, for embarking on an inner journey of discovery. It is also about the meaning of life, existence, and death. It should be considered a period that requires contemplating not the visible universe but the invisible, a time to pause, reflect, and re-evaluate. Especially when one approaches the end of life, people seek answers to eternity. Here, there are 4 fundamental anxieties that Yalom defines as existential anxiety. It's a fear common to all humans and has a genetic equivalent. One of these is the search for meaning. When one does not satisfy the search for meaning, the person falls into uncertainty. They fall into insecurity, and their fear emerges. They need to seek these. If these are not sought, Ramadan remains merely a physical act of worship. Ramadan is not just a physical act of worship but also one with an existential dimension. Religion is always referred to as ‘a social institution. It teaches morality in society, it is beneficial.’ In another sense, religion is also an existential institution. Many psychiatric illnesses are increasing due to the crisis of meaning. In such a period, it is necessary to articulate the search for meaning correctly.” he stated.
“The body begins to repair itself”
Tarhan stated that during the month of Ramadan, the brain programs itself according to hunger; “If a person sees the month of Ramadan as an opportunity, they approach Ramadan in that way. Our brain's operating system also has such a feature. It can program itself. For example, if you go to bed believing ‘I will wake up at four in the morning,’ you will wake up without an alarm. If you say ‘I might wake up, or I might not,’ you won’t be able to. Similarly, during Ramadan, if one fasts believing ‘I will stay hungry all day, I will fast,’ it becomes easy. If done without belief, Ramadan becomes a burden, and anger arises. This is entirely about programming our brain. The brain's operating system used to say ‘I think, therefore I am.’ Now it says ‘I believe, therefore I am.’ An emotion is added to a thought. When an emotion is added and accepted as if pressing the enter key, the brain accepts it as a belief. Then it takes a position accordingly, perceives. It gives reactions and programs its brain accordingly. In fasting, there is an adaptation period for the first 2-3 days. After the adaptation period, one stops feeling hungry. Meanwhile, the body begins to repair itself. The person easily overcomes the hardship that hunger would bring. Indeed, what most brings out the flavor in food is the intensity of hunger. You better understand the value and taste of the food you eat.” he said.
“A revolution that changed diet regimes…”
Regarding the physical and biological effects of fasting, Tarhan said; “In 2016, a Japanese scientist received the Nobel Prize for his work on autophagy. In the study of autophagy, when the body remains hungry for more than 12 hours, it's like this: For example, if a person comes home and the door is closed, they won't be able to enter. The same goes for food. If everything is closed, it starts to nibble and eat whatever is around. When the body is hungry, it eats from its reserves. When the usual routine foods don't arrive due to hunger, the body then starts to consume the waste on its right and left. It eats from reserves. It consumes accumulations within DNA. There are some vesicles within the cell. The body stores excess materials there. They later turn into fat. They cause damage to the cell. It cleanses damaged accumulations, fatigue substances, and waste materials in the body. Autophagy demonstrated this with evidence. Because of this revolution, diet regimes also began to change. This is very closely related to the 10-12 hours of hunger in what is called intermittent fasting. In terms of intestines, there is also the gut microbiome. Our intestines have as many cells as our body has cells. These cells are our companions. In this process, we also provide them with a space for relaxation,” he said.
“California syndrome has become the syndrome of civilization”
Tarhan, drawing attention to the fact that the California syndrome has become the syndrome of civilization, said; “There is a mind interface between the universe and our brain. There is a program called soul. The soul program. That program has an innate aspect, there are unchangeable softwares. There are system files. There is an operating system. And there is an area that belongs to us, where we move freely. Our soul has a free area that belongs to us. An area we call the mind. It is possible to reorganize this during Ramadan. This era is especially an era where hedonism is glorified. It is defined as California syndrome. Currently, California syndrome has become the syndrome of civilization. This syndrome has four main symptoms. First, hedonism. Considering the pursuit of pleasure as an ego ideal. It avoids anything that doesn't provide pleasure. Modern doctrine currently advocates this. The second symptom is being egocentric, that is, self-centeredness. Thirdly, loneliness. Such people already end up alone. Hedonistic people, after a while, because they are self-interested and pleasure-oriented, if they have power, they are surrounded by many fake people, but when they lose their power, they are left alone,” he stated.
Two important skills gained during the month of Ramadan…
Tarhan stated that the month of Ramadan creates a sense of inner well-being; “There are two important skills gained during the month of Ramadan. One is the skill of delayed gratification. The second is resilience training. We specifically teach these two skills to adolescents through modules. Those who do not possess these skills cannot succeed in life. They make many mistakes. Some people want it right now. The pleasure-seeking part within us wants it this way. The part defined as 'nafs' (ego/self) says 'now and immediately.' We gain the skill to postpone it. Normally, this was learned culturally within the family. Currently, because social media platforms transmit culture instead of the family, our children cannot learn this. Children are therefore more prone to falling into traps of instant gratification and pleasure. It needs to be taught to them. The month of Ramadan is thus a valuable opportunity for this. Because an atmosphere is created during Ramadan. It is harder for a person to fast outside of Ramadan, but during Ramadan, a general climate is formed, and when a person does this with belief, a feeling of inner well-being arises in the brain. Inner peace is created. This means that chemicals related to happiness become active in the brain. Here, we see more positive developments in health-related issues such as blood pressure. It also has significant effects on an individual's mental health. It plays a role in fostering resilience against impulsivity and impatience, which are causes of many psychiatric illnesses,” he said.
“The most important emotion gained during the month of Ramadan is the feeling of social compassion”
Tarhan emphasized that the feeling of social compassion increases during the month of Ramadan; “Human beings, by their biological and psychological nature, are relational beings. That is, humans are not programmed to live alone. Because of these characteristics, people want to be part of the social fabric. The month of Ramadan fosters mutual help with noble emotions. Helping people has an immediate benefit. It has a more immediate benefit than those related to death and the afterlife. Making them happy. Making them joyful. Compassion beautifies everything it enters. The most important emotion gained during the month of Ramadan is the feeling of social compassion. The first benefit of the feeling of compassion is to ourselves, and the second benefit is to the family. That is, family arguments decrease during Ramadan. Everyone becomes patient. Quarrels arising from simple problems are minimized. For this reason, children love the month of Ramadan very much. People always talk about ‘past Ramadans.’ Actually, we say that because we all miss the Ramadans of our childhood. Because childhood Ramadans are always experienced with beautiful memories. Mental health means accumulating good memories. If you accumulate good memories in social human relationships, the fewer traumatic experiences you have, the better your mental health will be. Ramadan also provides this and reduces many tensions. It improves social relationships and intra-family relationships. You become aware of disadvantaged people in society. The month of Ramadan offers a tremendous opportunity to help them. You also increase those people's sense of belonging to society,” he said.
“For those with goals in life, difficulties are stepping stones”
Tarhan spoke about the benefits Ramadan brings to people; “It is natural for a fasting person to experience tension and anxiety. A fasting person will experience hunger, hardship, and will manage it. We can grow by embracing these difficulties. That is, these are part of growth, of perfection. It needs to be accepted. When progressing on the path of life, instead of avoiding or fearing difficulties, one must confront and manage them. Our relationship with fears and stress is like our relationship with darkness. When a person enters a dark cave, they are initially scared. They want to get out and escape immediately, but if there's something they need to do there, they wait a bit and take necessary precautions. They slowly advance and then do what they intended to do. If they are to find a treasure, they find their treasure. For those with goals in life, difficulties are stepping stones. At the same time, it serves as resilience training for people. Life events and difficulties strengthen our psychological defenses. Ramadan also brings material and spiritual benefits to people. We need to be able to say no to those wrong suggestions within us,” he stated.
“We need to provide new answers to old questions”
Tarhan said that the month of Ramadan should be explained in a language that young people can understand; “Our ancestors beautifully conveyed the cultural transmission of the Seljuks and Ottoman periods, along with Islamic civilization, bringing it to a certain point. Currently, we need to provide new answers to old questions. Explaining Ramadan to young people in a classic way does not satisfy them. Therefore, we need to be able to explain it in a language young people understand. You see that people you least expect perform many religious rituals during Ramadan, even if they don't usually. In Turkey, the rate of alcohol consumption decreases by 50 percent during the month of Ramadan. For this reason, the occurrence of alcohol-related liver and heart diseases is prevented. This is a tradition, called the collective subconscious. Because it is embedded in our collective subconscious, it is transmitted. This becomes a sociological reality. To oppose this is actually to oppose reason. This is the culture that makes us who we are. If religion and language are one, then this nation is already one. Our ancestors have done this for centuries,” he said.
For the video: