Reply To: Am I going to gehenim?

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#977237
kinneret
Member

From this description, it sounds like you have a well-known compulsive disorder which includes things like biting nails, picking at skin, and pulling hair. See no links. There are support groups and therapists for this and since this is clearly causing you a lot of worry, I would get some help. You need to understand that this is not just a habit but a compulsion that you cannot just control by somehow calling up more willpower or worrying about gehinnom. This will just increase your anxiety and shame. I think bc many people bite their nails, it’s not taken very seriously and everyone assumes you can just stop for one day. That’s not the way a compulsion works. If it helps at all, people with these disorders are often intelligent, sensitive and high achieving. The behavior is soothing to them. That doesn’t mean you can’t stop, just that you will probably need help to stop. G-d is merciful and knows you certainly even better than you know yourself — why would you think that G-d would judge you so harshly for something you literally cannot control? However, if it is possible to gain control, through help and support, why would you hesitate to do so?