By Jacob L. Freedman
What it is about
High-quality and culturally sensitive mental health interventions combined with thoughtful spiritual guidance can ensure that everyone has a meaningful growth experience during the High Holy Days.
Why it matters
The High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur often bring an influx of questions and concerns among individuals, their families, and spiritual leaders. Distinguishing between healthy spiritual fear and pathological anxiety is essential for emotional well-being and spiritual growth.
The balance of mental health and spirituality
Efficient mental health recovery involves finding a balance. A depressed patient must rediscover happiness, but if they become disconnected from the emotional experiences of others, something important is missing. Similarly, an addict may be on the right path but must navigate social situations without relapsing. Patients struggling with pathological anxiety try to lead worry-free lives while benefiting from the brain’s natural fear responses to avoid danger.
Productive anxiety versus pathological anxiety
Healthy anxiety is vital for maintaining daily responsibilities and effective adulthood. Consequently, therapy aims to enhance productive anxiety while diminishing unhealthy symptoms.
The role of High Holy Days
For individuals with a history of anxiety, the High Holy Days can be challenging. Biblical and rabbinical language often emphasizes “yirat shamayim” or “fear of heaven.” Rabbi Saadia Gaon teaches that the shofar’s sound instills fear, encouraging humility before God.
Addressing patient concerns
The writer highlights various patient scenarios: a teenager terrified of divine retribution; a young mother with OCD reading Psalms obsessively; a rabbi handling a father’s anxieties about familial religious disinterest.
Differentiating spiritual fear from anxiety
To differentiate a healthy fear of heaven from pathological anxiety, the writer proposes three key distinctions:
- Fear of heaven strengthens relationships, whereas pathological anxiety strains them.
- Fear of heaven fosters spiritual wholeness, while pathological anxiety leads to emotional disconnection.
- Fear of heaven empowers positive actions within communities; pathological anxiety induces physical symptoms like headaches, stomach issues, and poor sleep.
These guidelines aid individuals in achieving spiritual fulfillment and identifying anxiety symptoms. Integrating culturally sensitive mental health care with spiritual support can make the High Holy Days a period of significant personal growth.
Conclusion
High-quality and culturally sensitive mental health interventions, combined with thoughtful spiritual guidance, can ensure a meaningful growth experience during the High Holy Days.
Shana Tova – a Happy New Year!
About the writer
The writer is a psychiatrist and business consultant based in Jerusalem. After completing his training at Harvard Medical School, he and his family immigrated to Israel. His new book, “The Things I Told My Patients,” is available from Menucha Publishers.
This story was first published on jpost.com.