COVID-19 : Application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to increase well-being in the new normal life

Abstract

The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 epidemic a global pandemic, causing substantial loss of life and property.  China started a "Lockdown" approach with Wuhan, Hubei Province, the first epicenter of the epidemic.  After that, other countries gradually followed the practice with an intention to block the spread of COVID-19.  The practice transformed human daily lives.   The "new normal" caused people to live in differences such as social distancing, locking down or working from home.  The new normal was a new lifestyle that was different from the past.  It affected the patterns and practices that people were normally familiar with and anticipate.   It changed to a new behavior that would become a new way under a new unfamiliar standard.  New behaviors that became normal caused adaptation and changed many behaviors to protect lives and reduce epidemics.  The situation resulted in anxiety without awareness.  Mental health promotion was therefore a guideline that should be applied more.  Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a form of therapeutic process was used to deal with people's anxiety and inappropriate emotional interactions.  It’s a common response to difficult situations in life, so ACT was the solution that can be achieved with the support of the psychologist.  Its essential principles were valuable in application as well as being, able to be applied in the daily life by people.