UNAIR NEWS – The month of Ramadan in 2020 is indeed different. The reason is that all Muslims must hold fasting in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic.
Some significant changes due to the pandemic became a challenge for people who are fasting. Management or regulation of emotion is needed so that fasting can run smoothly as in “normal” situations.
UNAIR psychology expert Tri Kurniati Ambarini, M.Psi., Psychologist, explained that emotional management is the ability to control emotional condition and reaction. Emotional management involves behavior, such as rethinking the situation at hand in order to control anger or anxiety. It includes the ability to hide or manage emotional reactions such as sadness and fear, or how to focus on things that make you happy or calm.
“The loss of habits or activities of worship performed outside the home, such as tarawih or praying in congregation in the mosque, tadarus together in the mosque will pose more challenges for people who are fasting,” said Tri Kurniati, Monday. May 11, 2020.
The inability to manage emotions is an important aspect in the formation of several mental disorders. If this inability to manage emotions continues, it will have a negative impact on psychological well-being and relationships with others.
“When we are not able to manage emotions in the current situation, then maybe someone will feel physical or psychological problems,” she said.
Physical problems occur in the form of symptoms such as excessive body fatigue, excessive thirst and hunger, unbearable drowsiness, or excessive sleep. Some symptoms of psychological problems such as anxiety from unusual religious activities cause a person feeling confused, irritable or sad, and other emotions. Finally, they cannot finish or complete their activities or responsibilities.
In the long run, someone who cannot manage emotions can experience mental health problems at a more serious level. Mental health problems that commonly occur are stress, depression or anxiety disorders, and some in the form of worsening mental health problems that have been previously owned.
The problem will be more severe when they are less flexible in adapting to the changes. For example, adjusting between norms or rules that he believes in worship with the limitations faced.
Not being able to pray at the mosque every day will be a problem for that person. He may become more easily provoked emotionally and take it out on people who are at home, so social relations with family will be affected.
The emotions that are expressed may be inappropriate, such as anger, anxiety or fear that is more dominant and ultimately damage social relations, and eliminate some good opportunities that person might get. On the contrary, suppressing emotions will also reduce mental well-being and affect relationships with others. (*)
Author: Ulfah Mu’amarotul Hikmah
Editor: Binti Q Masruroh
