Skip to content
This English version of the site was translated with AI assistance. We apologise for any errors and are working to improve it.
Jewish Psychosomatics — The Connection Between Mental Disorders and Spiritual Problems
Jewish Psychosomatics

Jewish Psychosomatics — The Connection Between Mental Disorders and Spiritual Problems

Jewish Psychosomatics — The Connection Between Mental Disorders and Spiritual Problems Mental illnesses are caused by chemical imbalances in the human brain, which cause emotions and thoughts to overreact—and sometimes even take control. This imbalance may be caused by two main factors: environmental influences or genetic predisposition. An environmental factor is when a person's life experiences cause depression, anxiety, or other emotional states. A genetic factor is a chemical imbalance that a person may be born with, which at some point begins to cause emotional and cognitive disorders in the brain. Rabbi Edo Weber teaches that there is a spiritual remedy that can help with mental illness. Chazal offer the following advice in the holy books: before Shabbat, the home in which a person with mental disorders lives should be cleaned and rid of all cobwebs in every corner and on every ceiling.  This is a segula, a spiritual remedy for depression or other mental illnesses. It will help heal the sufferer. Rabbi Yitzchak Fanger says that eating hot foods on Motzaei Shabbat also helps combat depression and sadness. Mekubal Rav Yaakov Ades (shlita) says in the name of the Rashash (Rabbi Shalom Sharabi) that at times a person's soul can descend to a very low level, causing depression. There is one thing that can help a person emerge from this depression— praying with deep enthusiasm and great inner fire.  Rabbi Ades explains that depression is caused by the soul's descent, which in turn is caused by a person's sins. Prayer from the depths of the heart, with uplift and joy, can draw light into the parts of the soul that have not been harmed by his sins, and through this light, repair the entire soul. (www. hidabroot.com — translated by the silatehilim.com website)  

Was this helpful?

100% of readers found this article helpful (52 votes).

Please note: some articles on our site contain the holy Names of the Almighty. If you print these articles, they may not be thrown away or destroyed. Please handle printed copies with care and respect.

Tags: Segulot, Parts of the Body, Jewish Psychosomatics, Depression, The Connection Between Mental Disorders and Spiritual Problems, Segulot for Depression

18 Nov 2017
Share

Related articles