Q

Is depression a result of bad middos? Does anxiety stem from lack of emunah?

In general, I would love to understand a bit more how overall character traits and personality tie into mental illness. Is there any relationship between a person’s level of character development and the presence of mental illness?

A

Let’s start with the easy part first: Illness is not a sign of bad middos. Headaches, digestive issues, heart conditions, and all other diseases and disabilities are challenges sent by Hashem. Mental illnesses such as psychosis, clinical depression, trichotillomania, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and all the rest are, similarly, challenges sent by Hashem. Mental illness has nothing to do with character. The question is, then, what is mental illness, and what is character?

This question needs to be asked because at this point in time, we don’t have blood tests, X-rays, brain scans, or other diagnostic procedures that can diagnose mental illness. The diagnosis is made through the process of professional psychological assessment.