My husband and I were chatting with someone we barely knew.
The man said, “Oh, I’ve had depression forever.”
A week later we went for Chinese and sat outside next to another couple.
My husband mentioned the interchange and said to me, “Isn’t that sort of personal to say in public like that?”
I talk loud and responded loudly: “Depression is entry-level.”
The lady sitting next to us introduced herself. “I’m a child psychiatrist. People are forever asking me for free advice.”
She was a very nice and genuine lady. We started laughing, a knowing laugh.
Look, ladies and gentlemen. Jews are no different than anyone else. And everyone has something: depression, anxiety, bipolar, dissociative identity disorder, personality disorders, and trauma—from the ordinary to the horrific.
When you see someone melting down in public in a very extreme way, the entire conversation changes.
It’s no longer a genuine debate. It’s a question of intervention.
I don’t know how FlatbushGirl can get help with all her followers enabling her and her family seemingly adopting a hands off approach.
Also, when you’re used to the spotlight like she is, withdrawal could pose its own dangers.
The law doesn’t seem to be stopping her — even though she is getting sued.
It’s a genuinely sad and bad situation to watch.
I know people who are praying for HaShem to bring her troubled soul a refuah.
They’re telling me about it.
We are all Jewish people. A very small community.
Hoping for justice for those she has harmed, but also no violence, help for her, peace of mind for all.
If you didn’t get it already, this is not about the Agunah problem. This is FlatbushGirl projecting her issues onto something else, which may not even be a problem in the first place, if you actually look at the data.
Personal opinion only.
Writing by Dr. Dannielle Blumenthal 