Questions tagged [psych-mentalhealth]
The psych-mentalhealth tag has no usage guidance.
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Online shiurim on the topic of religious OCD
Would anyone know of any online Shiurim on the topic of religion-related Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
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Where does human consciousness derive from according to kabbalistic teachings?
In the kabbalah there is an extensive writing on how a human's soul derive from different worlds, Nefesh - Assiyah, Ruach - Yetzira etc.
Then we also have the distinction between the G-dly soul and ...
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“The feelings reveal the soul.”(Pieseszner Rebbe). Is this idea accepted by contemporary Orthodox thought?
In “Experiencing the Divine: A Practical Jewish Guide,” by Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapira
(the Pieseszner Rebbe), translated by Yaacov Dovid Shulman, the Rebbe says, (p 28):
Every feeling that is ...
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Is it permitted for a male to have a female therapist?
It is forbidden to be secluded with another woman (excluding a woman that it is permitted e.g. wife, mother, grandmother etc.). This is known as yichud.
It is permitted though, provided the area is ...
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Loshon hara to a therapist
Is saying things that would otherwise be considered loshon hara permitted in the context of mental health therapy?
I am not familiar with the details of therapeutic schools, but I understand that ...
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When one is home alone, does the Torah discourage the eating of bizarre food mixtures?
Note: If you're going to be eating a meal soon, you might not want to read this question, and you (especially) might not want to click through to the "Secretive food concocting" Wikipedia article. Why?...
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Is Transcendental Meditation kosher?
Transcendental Meditation is a popular form of meditation that, many practitioners claim, relieves psychological stress. Although it was founded an Indian guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, it is not at all ...
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Naming a baby boy before a deferred bris
The typical practice when a baby boy is born is to refrain from calling him by any name until he is given a name at his bris. In cases where the bris is deferred (e.g. for health reasons) for an ...
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Judaism and dementia
Are there any books/articles that discuss dementia from a Jewish perspective? I am looking for a perspective that include coping with, and relevant hashkafa. The intended audience being not the sick ...
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Mental Telepathy
In Rabbi Immanuel Schochet's introduction to the fundamentals to proving religion. He mentions mental telepathy as a phenomenon that although uncommon does exist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...
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Does Judaism adjudicate cases involving mental anguish?
If a non-physical act, such as exposure to viewing something which the current medical field would deem traumatizing, is intentionally perpetrated by one person on another, are there any legal ...
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May a person with a nature of getting angry be a dayan?
I sit in a beis din with a dayan who gets angry very easily. He can't seem to control his anger, causing great anguish to the litigants, and a big chilul Hashem at times. I have been asked to approach ...
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On Shabbat, if one can't sleep, may one consume valerian tea? Valerian root powder? Other non-prescription remedies?
Occasionally, on Shabbat, I've had trouble sleeping.
The Doctors Book of Home Remedies (20th anniversary edition) (Rodale, 2010) includes a section about insomnia, which includes a long list of home ...
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Mental Disability and Exemption from Mitzvot
To what extent are the mentally disabled exempt from mitzvot, and what mitzvot are they exempt from? At what level of mental disability does this exemption kick in if it exists, and is it gradual ...
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How does Judaism treat depression?
Other than through music are there any recommendations in Tanach, the gemarah or other commentators which discuss the best ways, meaning most likely to succeed, to treat depression?
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Do sociopaths/psychopaths lack "דעת" of Good and Evil?
As YeZ points out in this answer, "daat" is the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Do sociopaths and/or psychopaths lack the דעת of the distinction between good and evil?
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Can a person with a disability that causes them to be incontinent put on tefillin? If so, when?
If someone has a disability wherein they suffer from incontinence from time to time are they able to put on tefillin or not? Is there any consideration for psychological or emotional damage that may ...
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Rambam's responsum about treating depression with music
I remember reading a tashubho from the Rambam where he clearly states that music can treat depression and therefore it is ok to listen to if you are depressed. However, I can't seem to find it at the ...
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Is it permitted to have an abortion if divorce if imminent?
I know that abortion is permissible if physical health of the mother could be compromised, but what about the emotional health of the mother (or the father for that matter) - if a couple sees divorce ...
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At what point can you assume senility?
In my experience it is rare to see a Rosh Yeshiva or other prominent Rabbi declared to be senile and no longer working at full mental capacity. Recently such a proclamation was made about one Rosh ...
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Jewish alternative to a Christian self-help book
I had a bad psychological trauma some time ago and I felt the urgent need to review myself. I found that reading self-help books helped me.
I tried to learn Mussar books (Mesillat yesharim, Chafetz ...
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Is Some One With Alzheimer's Obligated in Mitzvoth?
My grandmother has pretty progressed Alzheimer's disease. I have seen throughout the Oral Tradition the concept of a person with certain medical conditions, such as a deaf mute, or a person who lacks ...
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Does tzar baalei chayim include mental anguish?
Does the prohibition on causing tzar baalei chayim (paining animals) preclude acts which only cause an animal mental anguish, such as scaring them, or it is limited to physical pain?
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Is an asexual person obligated in Pru Urvu?
Asexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by the lack of sexual attraction towards people in general. Asexuals may or may not be interested in romantic relationships, but are not physically ...
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Is it considered Pikuach Nefesh if you break Shomer Negiah to give someone emotional comfort?
I've asked myself this before, but I'm not sure. Say that you see someone depressed, severely depressed and they just need a hug. If they're the same gender, that's all fine and dandy. However, if you'...
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Why the Brain (Moach) as the source for thought is not mentioned in Torah?
Wherever the Torah refers to thinking and feelings of Anger, compassion, etc. it always mentions the Heart as the controlling organ (also Kidney) but NEVER the Brain?
(Even in the Gemara the Moach is ...
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Where does Ramban discuss OCD and the mikvah?
I was told that the Ramban writes regarding women who have awful problems using the mikvah because they keep worrying they're not clean enough -- in today's terms, we call that obsessive-compulsive ...
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Commandments on emotions [duplicate]
I can understand if the Torah commands one to wear tefilin or put on a mezuza.
But to command a person not to hate anyone, not to covet anything of anyone, not to bear a grudge, love your fellow as ...
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How does one improve memory?
Does Judaism provide and tips, tricks or rituals for improving memory or preventing forgetfulness?
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Treating obsessive compulsive scrupulosity without ignoring genuine conscience
I read a psychological paper that was linked to in a comment here, dealing with how obsessive-compulsive scrupulosity can be treated specifically for Orthodox Jews.
The paper gives a helpful and ...
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May we intervene with Religious OCD sufferers?
On what level may we (or may we not) intervene with OCD sufferers when they are not related to you in any way?
I am referring to a sizable demographic of religious OCD sufferers, who don't ...
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Why did God create the mentally ill/ severely handicapped?
Why did God create people who are mentally ill or severely handicapped? They are not able to serve him in the same capacity and their lives seem to be full of difficulty and anguish. Why would God do ...
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Does Judaism endorse guilt?
I am not a Jew. In a few TV series, I saw/heard that Jews experience self-repression due to their belief. I heard that being Jewish means enduring a lot of guilt, or becoming aware of things to feel ...
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Controlling a bad habit: picking fingernails on Shabbat
Does anyone have advice for someone who has a (nervous?) habit to rub/scrape their fingernails together - thereby tearing away parts of the nail and surrounding skin (which is a rabbinic prohibition ...
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What is a person's consciousness in the next world?
I have heard in the name of the baalei mussar that the same consciousness you have in this world carries through to the next. In other words the same "I" that you relate to in this world remains the ...
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How can you quit a habit of visiting inappropriate websites?
The Torah teaches that, if you're an unmarried man, watching pornography is harmful to your soul. See, for example, this article by Chabad rabbi Tzvi Freeman. (If you're married and need to watch ...
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Are you culpable for things done under hypnosis?
The other question regarding the halachos of hypnosis only discusses doing it/having it done to you. I would like to know if someone who is already hypnotized (either intentionally or not) is culpable ...
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May one consume peyote?
Peyote is a hallucinogenic plant that contains no harmful side effects or addictive properties and is legal for religious ceremonial use. May one consume it?
related: Is one allowed to smoke ...
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Do JONAH and similar organizations successfully help those with same-gender attractions?
Wikipedia's article on homosexuality and Judaism talks about Jewish organizations which aim to help people change. The article mentions JONAH, an organization which works on "prevention, intervention,...
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Who is a Shoteh?
In modern day language, what is a Halachic Shoteh?
In other words, is someone who is schizophrenic, clinically depressed, OCD, etc. free from Mitzvos?
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Does Down Syndrome make one a Shoteh?
I had a very strange experience and I would like to know what halacha thinks.
I was in shul on Shabbos, and an adult with Down Syndrome ripped by opening the box of tissues. I was not going to say ...
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Hypnosis in Halacha
Is there a proplem in the Halachic literature with hypnosis? What, if anything, is the issue involved in either hypnotising people or being the subject of such an hypnosis?