Am I exempt from observing Shabbat?
Question
Three years ago, I was forcibly hospitalized in a mental health center, and I experienced more side effects from the injections they gave me than from the illness itself. I grew up in a very secular home and remained secular.About a year ago, I had a psychotic episode and felt as if an evil spirit was tormenting me and clinging to me. Since then, I’ve started observing Shabbat and going to synagogue. But in order to keep Shabbat, I take 8 sleeping pills and sleep until Shabbat ends. Then I wake up, but I’m left feeling awful due to the side effects.One of the side effects of the injections I receive is heavy smoking, so I’m unable to get through Shabbat without sleeping through it. The problem is that I’m harming myself, and my mother told me that one day I might not wake up from all these sleeping pills.Another difficulty is that I have no one to spend Shabbat with—my mother watches TV all day, and I’m left alone, so I sleep.In short, I heard that someone dealing with mental health issues is considered a shoteh and is exempt from Mitzvot that cause them harm.My question is: Am I allowed to desecrate Shabbat? Am I exempt?
Answer
You’re not allowed to harm yourself or endanger your life in order to keep Shabbos.
Therefore, it’s forbidden for you to take more than the permitted dose of sleeping pills on Shabbos.
Try to find an alternative to smoking on Shabbos—I'm assuming your doctor can help you find an alternative that’s permitted to take on Shabbos.
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