[ozzy1313]

This Jewish holiday starts tomorrow. It is the holiest of all Jewish holidays. I am not very religious, but this is always a difficult time. This is the day that it is said if you are written into the book of life- who shall live and who shall die. I do not believe religious teachings as truth, but almost every year I hope that this year I won't be written in to the book of life. Fall starts endless months of depression, and right now I have a level of anxiety I have never ever had. I live daily with my heart in my throat unable to breathe (I see pdoc next week).

I am writing this post to see if there are any other Jewish people here who have any idea what I am talking about.

[*Laurie*]

Hi! I was raised in a Jewish family. It so happens that I love this time of year...the scorching California summer finally mostly turns into a kinder and less intense warmth.

As for Yom Kippur...I do sense that there's some kind of universal intuition that determined why Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur falls at the time of the harvest, but overall I tend to view the High Holidays as a historic event, not so much a solid truth. I mean, look back many thousands of years...Jewish leaders told the people they had better atone for their sins and be good if they wanted to live another year. Well, what an effective way to encourage folks to behave themselves!

I kind of use the holidays as a time to gently reflect on my life, being sure to consciously reward myself for the healthy choices I've made over the past year. And I take a look at some of the challenges I'm still working on, and will be working with for the coming year.

As for this time of year being a time when you fall into depression/anxiety, I'm so sorry. Of course, that's not a Jewish thing...so many people commonly experience depression when the days are cooler and shorter.

Living with that kind of severe anxiety is a misery. I'm glad you're seeing your p-doc tomorrow. That's a really life-affirming action to take for Yom Kippur!

[fishin fool]

Hello ozzy1313 I am Jewish also. Not a religious man at all but I love the history
and culture of Judaism. I am also bipolar 2 and I also struggle with the short days
of the winter months. I find the depression really kicks in for me when it starts
to get dark at 5 in the afternoon. I absolutely hate that. When the Holidays roll
around it just makes me reflect a bit and I think of my dad who was a holocaust
survivor. I am sure I will struggle through the winter also so feel free to reach
out and we can help each other get through it until we see another beautiful spring.