Q&A: Obligation in Commandments During Depression
Obligation in Commandments During Depression
Question
Hello,
I have been dealing with major depression for several years. Modern medicine treats it as a full-fledged illness, one that requires medical treatment and medication. But unlike other illnesses, the severity of depression is not assessed by measurable means, but according to the patient’s own experience. I find that many times observing Jewish law exacts a psychological price from me. This is not a matter of danger to life, and yet it is clear to me that certain things (for example, the mental effort involved in prayer) make coping with the depression harder. In such a case, are there any special halakhic leniencies? And is a person trusted to testify about himself that he is too ill to pray, fast, or fulfill other commandments?
Thank you
Answer
The basic rule is that a person is trusted regarding himself. More than that: if you are the one making the decision, then you know whether you really think so or not, so the question of credibility does not really arise. “The heart knows the bitterness of its soul” is said only when other people need to act in a way that would otherwise be forbidden because of your illness. There the question of your credibility does arise.
Clearly, such a consideration is legitimate in Jewish law, but it is hard to give a general halakhic criterion. Each question has to be judged on its own merits. As for prayer, if it significantly affects your mental state, then you can certainly pray alone and shorten the prayer.
Discussion on Answer
“And you shall keep My statutes and My laws, which a person shall do and live by them.”
If you cannot live by them and it mainly causes suffering, then you are certainly exempt.
“Cease to do evil … even though you make many prayers, I do not hear.”
I can’t give a general answer. It depends very much on what exactly the effect is and how much has to be given up in order to deal with it.
What are the boundaries here? A short private prayer, or is it possible to forgo prayers altogether if it has a noticeable impact?