Definition, causes, and consequences of Hamm (idiom of distress in Arabic) in the Palestinian context: a qualitative study

Abstract

Background Hamm is an Arabic word that is used to express suffering. Idioms of distress are communicated differently in different contexts and cultures. Understanding idioms of distress and symptoms can help in diagnosis and lead to socioculturally sensitive health care.

Psychosocial concerns in a context of prolonged political oppression: Gaza mental health providers’ perceptions

“…Idioms of distress as they emerged in the experts' perceptions indicated the sense of oppression and humiliation that Palestinians experience (Barber et al, 2013(Barber et al, , 2016bLacey, 2011). In contrast, idioms of distress mentioned by authors who studied populations affected by war and political violence in other Arab contexts did not reflect feelings of suffocation and closure (El-Shaarawi, 2012;Hassan et al, 2015;Nasir et al, 2018). For example, El-Shaarawi (2012) reported idioms common among Iraqi refugees in Egypt.…”

“…Other idioms of distress identified in Syria were ana ta'ban (I am tired) and nafsiyti ta'banah (my psyche is tired), indicating emotional exhaustion and fatigue as a result of the prolonged displacement characterizing the Syrian population's human insecurity (Hassan et al, 2015). Nasir et al (2018) found that the Arabic expression Hamm (worry) is a common expression of distress in Gaza. In our study sample, the term Makhnogeen ("we are suffocating"), the plural form of the term Makhnouk (feeling of suffocation), was commonly used to express the collective and social suffering of Palestinians, whereas Iraqi refugees define their suffering using the singular form of the term.…”

“…In fact, the lack of electricity, dangers derived from a disrupted and unstable living environment, military incursions and shelling from the sea and the sky, the experience of being trapped in an open-air prison, chronic uncertainty, and a lack of hope for the future increase the risks for developing psychological disorders (Rabaia et al, 2018). Despite Gazans’ attempts to emotionally and psychologically adjust to the hardships through resilience and survival skills (Afana et al, 2020; Nguyen-Gillham et al, 2008; Veronese & Barola, 2018), their powerlessness, hopelessness, and chronic collective psycho-social suffering persist (Elessi et al, 2019). In fact, 13 years of the blockade and regular military strikes have undermined personal and community resources, making it difficult for people to live a fulfilling life (Lederman et al, 2019; Powers & Faden, 2008).…”