By Simha Health in Conversation with Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Schwartz
As we approach the holiday of Pesah, our homes often transform into hubs of intense activity. From the rigorous cleaning and scouring for hametz to the logistical gymnastics of hosting, it is a season of profound beauty but also one of significant stress. For many in our community, this stress goes beyond simple holiday jitters, often touching on deeper struggles with anxiety and religious Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), also known as scrupulosity.
In a recent community event hosted by the Simha organization, Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Schwartz, Clinical Director of the Center for Anxiety Relief, shared vital insights on how to balance religious devotion with mental well-being.
Understanding Scrupulosity: The Doubting Disease
A common question arises this time of year: how do we distinguish between someone who is deeply devoted to religious practice and someone struggling with religious OCD? Dr. Schwartz explains that emotional disorders often exist on a continuum. While a devoted person might spend extra time in prayer or cleaning out of a sense of connection and peace, a person with OCD is driven by what is often called the doubting disease.
In religious OCD, an individual experiences intense anxiety around specific thoughts, or obsessions, such as the fear that they didn’t clean a room well enough or didn’t pronounce a word in prayer correctly. To mitigate this terror, they perform repetitive behaviors or compulsions. These acts are not performed for the sake of the mitzvah or to connect with Hashem; rather, they are a desperate attempt to escape the discomfort of uncertainty.
The Trap: Strengthening the Validity of the Doubt
A hallmark of religious OCD is the constant need for reassurance. Individuals may consult multiple rabbis, family members, or teachers to ask the same questions repeatedly in hopes of feeling sure. However, this seeking of reassurance actually fuels the disorder.
When a person repeatedly asks for confirmation that they have done enough, they are inadvertently strengthening the validity of the doubt. Each time they seek reassurance to escape anxiety, the brain learns that the initial doubt was a legitimate threat that required action. This trains the individual to rely on external validation rather than the clear guidelines provided by the law. Instead of finding peace, the person becomes more trapped, as the anxiety will eventually demand even more certainty, pushing the individual to go a drop more just to be sure.
Re-framing the Approach: Awareness Over Uncertainty
One of the most effective tools for managing scrupulosity is shifting the perspective from doing more to doing what is required. Instead of seeking more stringencies to feel safe, Dr. Schwartz suggests that one should be aware of what one does not have to do, such as in the case of a chumra. Halakha provides clear boundaries designed to protect our peace of mind. Concepts like bittul and selling hametz are specifically meant to cover concerns that the human eye cannot see. Dr. Schwartz emphasizes that sticking to the specific rules given by a single authority is actually an essential part of the mitzvah itself. Individuals should rely on finite, defined rules and then move on.
Reclaiming the Simha
The word simha means joy, and Pesach is referred to as Zman Simhateinu, the time of our happiness. Dr. Schwartz notes that we often have it backwards, becoming somber and anxious when we should be joyful.
The goal of Pesach is not a shot at perfection that leaves us depleted. Rather, the holidays are meant to charge our batteries for the rest of the year. By focusing on the simha and the kashrut in equal measure, we fulfill the will of Hashem while maintaining our mental health. As you prepare your homes, remember that a kosher Pesach requires a healthy mind as much as a clean kitchen.
If you or a loved one are struggling with mental health, the Simha organization provides a database of vetted therapists and specialists to guide you toward the right support. For more information, contact office@simhahealth.org.