Currently, Muslims all around the world are observing fasting during the month of Ramadan. The recent years have been challenging for everyone in terms of mental health. The pandemic has left various negative consequences on the mental well-being of people. Stress, tension, anxiety, fear, and various other negative emotions have disrupted the mental health of individuals. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 970 million people worldwide suffer from mental health problems/disorders. In Indonesia, the Indonesian Association of Psychiatrists (PDSKJI) reported the results of an online psychological assessment that 75 percent of the Indonesian population is experiencing psychological issues, including anxiety, depression, psychological trauma, and suicide.

Fasting is a conscious effort to restrain one's desires, hunger, and thirst. Upon deeper reflection, the essence of fasting is self-control. A person with sound mental health is someone who can master and control their inner and outer impulses. So, in reality, by fasting, we are training ourselves to achieve optimal mental health. When mental health is optimal, we can carry out activities, work, and establish good relationships in life.

Every individual will face unexpected challenging situations in every phase of life. With optimal mental health, a person can cope with these situations and continue to be productive and function well in life. However, if the stress becomes too heavy and their mental capacity is lacking, the individual may experience mental disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders, and psychotic disorders.

Fasting is a good means of "soul detoxification." Soul detoxification during fasting occurs because we create distance from things that often disturb our souls. Various habits that are unhealthy in terms of thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors are fully controlled towards a better direction during fasting.

Here are the benefits of fasting for mental health as a means of soul detoxification:

1. Improved regeneration of new body cells.
2. More stable and balanced digestive, cardiovascular, and nervous systems.
3. Cleansing the body from various toxins and reducing inflammation processes.
4. Increased production of endorphins (stress-reducing hormones).
5. Increased self-reflection and relaxation of mental tension.
6. Enhanced sensory functions and increased self-control.
7. Spiritual coping, stress management by drawing closer to the Creator.

Some behaviors developed during fasting, such as restraining oneself from getting angry (anger management), refraining from smoking, avoiding pornography, etc., are positive steps for self-development and character improvement. As we know, these behaviors have negative impacts on physical and mental health, so fasting can be an opportunity to make fundamental and continuous behavioral changes. It is hoped that by changing negative behaviors into positive ones, both physical and mental health can be improved.

Wishing you a blessed fasting and a successful soul detoxification.

Author: dr. Lahargo Kembaren, Sp.KJ

Reference: 

Yiren Wang, Ruilin Wu, "The Effect of Fasting on Human Metabolism and Psychological Health", Disease Markers, vol. 2022, Article ID 5653739, 7 pages, 2022.

A. Michalsen, “Prolonged fasting as a method of mood enhancement in chronic pain syndromes: a review of clinical evidence and mechanisms,”

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