Questions tagged [psych-mentalhealth]

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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.
KolHashoneh18's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
127 views

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 ...
Levi's user avatar
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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 ...
Avrohom Yitzchok's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
2k views

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 ...
Shoel U'Meishiv's user avatar
11 votes
4 answers
1k views

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 ...
SAH's user avatar
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3 votes
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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?...
tealhill supports Monica's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
2k views

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 ...
Aryeh's user avatar
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4 votes
4 answers
669 views

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 ...
Daniel's user avatar
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10 votes
2 answers
296 views

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 ...
Michael's user avatar
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8 votes
2 answers
429 views

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=...
Dovid's user avatar
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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 ...
rabbi's user avatar
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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 ...
unforgettableidSupportsMonica's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
481 views

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 ...
Robert S. Barnes's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
755 views

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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1 answer
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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?
bluebunny's user avatar
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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 ...
user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
756 views

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 ...
MoriDowidhYa3aqov's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
414 views

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 ...
Menachem's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
106 views

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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10 votes
5 answers
503 views

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 ...
Bachur's user avatar
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1 answer
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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 ...
Baby Seal's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
125 views

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?
please remove my account's user avatar
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4 answers
2k views

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 ...
user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
2k views

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'...
rosen's user avatar
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11 votes
6 answers
537 views

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 ...
Reader2's user avatar
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10 votes
1 answer
523 views

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 ...
Shalom's user avatar
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-1 votes
1 answer
157 views

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 ...
ray's user avatar
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10 votes
7 answers
688 views

How does one improve memory?

Does Judaism provide and tips, tricks or rituals for improving memory or preventing forgetfulness?
user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
1k views

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 ...
Annelise's user avatar
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8 votes
5 answers
1k views

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 ...
shnozolla's user avatar
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10 votes
3 answers
2k views

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 ...
user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
255 views

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 ...
Zurechtweiser's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
398 views

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 ...
Danield's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
302 views

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 ...
Gavriel's user avatar
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19 votes
4 answers
4k views

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 ...
tealhill supports Monica's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
424 views

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 ...
Identitytheft-Dave's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
746 views

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 ...
Identitytheft-Dave's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
1k views

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,...
tealhill supports Monica's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
3k views

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?
ertert3terte's user avatar
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23 votes
3 answers
1k views

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 ...
Chalutzhanal's user avatar
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21 votes
3 answers
2k views

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?
y-oy-y's user avatar
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