No problem

Ok , btw before i start, you dont sound anything but asking an honest question
Well, living as a muslim, is quiet humbling tbh, there is not alot of influence in womens choices in islam, we are pretty much left to our own devices to choose what we think we should do is right, we are guided by the quran and often attend lectures etc to maintain our understanding, (as you know in every religion, its quiet easy to misunderstand the real meaning behind religious messages),I , myself , reverted as a 22 yr old and i didnt take it lightly, i was christened catholic as a infant, so i studied alot of books and attended seminars etc.. Muslim women are no more oppressed then the average woman walking down the street.
We choose when to wear the hijab, and the way we dress and the way we live day to day, alot of people think we are forced to dress certain ways, and live certain ways. In saying that, there are many people who have complimented me on the way i dress, and the colours etc.
I think the stress is the high anxiety of stepping out the door everyday into the unknown, media plays a huge rols in the way we are seen and treated in this country and in many countries, we are percieved as terrorsits, rapists, and the invaders trying to take over countries to over ride their governments and nations with our islamic hig wash as some put it lol... sorry for the wording..
I, personally will go to areas i know there are majority muslims, due to the fact i feel safer, and especially hwile my children are with me... i often cop the disgrace stare and get poeple in cars mocking me,and my dress attire.. i try and shelter my children from this as this is not what i want my children to grow up understanding, that hate and uneducated people can make him second guess himself... and his beliefs. Another stress is being labelled "oppressed", we arent oppressed at all, its actually hardom to force a woman to wear the hijab and to marry, these are extreme sins on a man if he forces his wife or daughter into any of these things. We have to be ready, physically and mentally to take that step to cover up and be modest in our dressing and in our marriage. this is our choice, our right and no one can make it for us.. especially in todays society, in saying that i have no doubt that in some countries, this does happen but in my knowledge, they will not be doing the right thing.
ALso being labelled a terrorist, after 9/11 we were sent into a downward spiral, we are not allowed to kill or murder anyone, its so wrong, in our religion its completely against the meaning of islam.... so all the suicide bombers etc, will not be martyrd at all, the ones where they go into other countries an dbomb, buildings, railways etc, are just doing that out of an extremist faction, but we everyday muslims pay the price for it.

Living in sydney we have a huge diversity of religions, nationalities, and in every religion, we all have the extreme followers who's ideals reach the wrong places and influence others views towards us, inwhich causes us to be belittles and always on alert for a worst case scenario.. and believe me it does happen, at least once a week..
In islam, we are taught to love everyone of every religion, colour,nationality, we are not to judge as this is hardom, which means its wrong, unlike the fanatical sheiks you see on tv, we dont care for others dress attire, and ways of living, as long as its not imposing on the insides of my home, its not of my concern, and thats the way of majority muslims, this is the muslims you never see on tv, or in the media.
The stress's are just trying to be us, with over 100 peoples eyes staring straight through you, looking at you like we are imposing on them for the way we dress, eat, pray, fast.. many people dont understand and due to what they hear they arent open minded to trying to know anymore then that..
Sorry a tad rambly lol, ask as many questions as you need.. lol
i also have pics of myself and family if you want to see how we are, look and live?