Islamic psycho-immunological approaches in increasing immunity during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on mental health because it can increase the risk of panic, anxiety, and fear in society. New normal conditions with various limitations require people to be adaptive in order to cope with stressors that arise during the pandemic. This condition could interfere with mental health and adversely affect the body’s immunity. Stress, through the nervous system, functions to help individuals move actively. In individuals who experience stress, the sympathetic system will activate various organs of the body causing the increment of blood sugar, blood pressure, muscle activities and metabolism which can reduce the immunity of individuals. Besides that, various efforts have been made as a form of controlling the spread of infection such as the application of health protocols, the concept of Iman (Faith), Imun (Immune), Aman (Secure), and vaccination. In addition, there are other efforts done by the Islamic religious people that hold approaches in the form of beliefs and daily life rituals, namely the concept of Dua, Ikhtiar, Tawakkul, and Tawadhu in facing the COVID-19 pandemic disaster. This concept is related to the psychoneuroimmunology aspect which, if applied correctly, can have an impact in finding mental resilience.