Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Stress

Explanation of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Techniques and Process and Its Link in Reducing Stress
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Explanation of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Techniques (ACT) And Process And Its Link In Reducing Stress
Introduction and Background to the Research
Psychological stress is an uncomfortable emotion linked to physiology and behavior changes. Different age groups show significant variations in the levels of psychological dysfunction. Accepting oneself as a unique individual with positive or negative aspects can lead to psychological flexibility (Rossi et al., 2020). The ability to contact the present moment more fully as a conscious human being and change their behavior serves valued ends. ACT encourages people to adopt positive changes and live according to the laws of nature (Wang et al., 2020).
Numerous studies have demonstrated that ACT reduces psychological dysfunction across several chronic disease states, including anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder (P.D.), social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD) (Lai et al., 2020). Additionally, there has been much success using Western and Eastern medicine techniques like yoga or meditation, which are said anecdotally from practitioners who observed these patients before it became popularized through experiments on rats (Karim, 2020). Psychological stress can be defined by saying any unpleasant emotion, and inevitable biochemical reactions manifested physically throughout your body all at once.
Stress is an inevitable part of life caused by various factors, such as work, relationships, and financial concerns. While some stress is necessary for productivity and motivation, too much stress can be harmful, leading to physical and emotional problems (Xiang et al., 2020). The stress level among people increases due to an abrupt rise in COVID-19 cases and deceased due to the virus spread. Medical researchers explain that COVID-19 has raised the death and disease stress on themselves and their close ones, which need to be treated to assist them in living a peaceful life (Viswanathan et al., 2020). Therefore, it can be said that ACT is a type of psychotherapy that can help reduce stress. ACT is based on the idea that it is impossible to control all the events in our lives, but one can control how to respond to them.
Wang et al. (2020) stated that ACT is a "challenging and flexible approach to Treatment" that helps people learn how to accept their current situation, thoughts, and feelings without judging or insisting on changing them; commit to behaving in ways that will reduce their stress levels, and stay committed over time. Zheng (2020) added that ACT deals with problems arising from people's thoughts and feelings. These negative thoughts are called distressing Thoughts. ACT helps people identify and accept these troubling thoughts without getting stuck in them. The purpose of the paper is to evaluate the role of ACT in reducing stress among people due to COVID-19 spread and how this treatment is different from other psychological treatments. The six core processes and techniques of ACT are explained, and in the end, a critique of ACT is developed to discuss its drawbacks. It further presents the psychological flexibility and adaption of ACT during pandemic circumstances.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health and Increased Depression
The outbreak of Covid-19 has had a significant impact on the mental health of individuals around the world. The virus has caused widespread panic and fear, leading to a substantial increase in the number of people experiencing anxiety and depression. The fear and anxiety associated with Covid-19 can be highly debilitating and significantly reduce the quality of life for those affected. People experiencing anxiety may find it difficult to leave their homes and become isolated from their friends and family (Viswanathan et al., 2020). They may also experience various physical symptoms, such as sleeplessness, panic attacks, and increased heart rate. Depression is also becoming increasingly common as a result of Covid-19.
People struggling with depression may find it difficult to concentrate or carry out everyday activities. They may also experience feelings of guilt and shame, making the problem even more challenging to cope with. The impact of Covid-19 on the mental health of individuals is significant and ongoing. The fear and anxiety caused by the virus will continue to harm the lives of those affected, and we must do everything we can to help them cope with the situation. Widespread outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, are associated with psychological distress and symptoms of mental illness in the population (Lai et al., 2020). The increased incidence of infectious diseases may lead to increased psychological pain and symptoms of mental illness.
Excessive health anxiety can lead to unnecessary medical care and increased anxiety and stress levels. These can worsen infectious diseases and prolong the time it takes for an individual to return to total health. Patients with a previous history of anxiety and stress are more prone to e impacted by the stress linked with the COVID-19 pandemic (Gloster et al., 2020). The stress associated with a significant health crisis, such as an outbreak of a novel virus, can be pretty severe and maybe too much for some individuals with a mental disorder to handle. It can lead to a relapse or a new episode of their disease. People may be using more alcohol or drugs to cope with these stressors, alarming health. COVID-19 can lead to neurological complications like delirium and agitation and mental difficulties such as sleep issues or anxiety that people who already have a pre-existing condition might experience in an intensified way (Zheng, 2020). Those who already suffer from pre-existing disorders also stand a higher risk of severe outcomes if they contract SARS-CoV ̶ even death in some cases. These all factors have led to increased mental issues and problems worldwide.
Psychological Flexibility and Adaption of ACT
Psychologically flexible people may be better able to recognize when their thoughts, feelings, or behaviors are getting in the way of what they want to achieve and respond in a way that allows them to stay focused on their goals, even in the face of difficulty or temptation (Alhalafi, 2020). In addition, this ability to be flexible may help people manage the stress and uncertainty of COVID-19 in a way that allows them to stay connected to their loved ones and maintain their sense of wellbeing. People with higher psychological flexibility were more likely to have better mental health outcomes after a stressful event than those with lower psychological flexibility (Chong et al., 2021). People with higher psychological flexibility were more likely to report lower anxiety, depression, and stress after a stressful event. They were also more likely to have better mental health outcomes overall.
Psychological flexibility is the ability to adapt behavior and attitudes to changing circumstances. It is one measure of psychological resilience. The psychological flexibility model effectively reduces psychological distress in a range of populations, including those with anxiety disorders, depression, and chronic pain. The ACT model has also been effective in reducing stress and increasing wellbeing in healthy people. With COVID-19, psychological flexibility may be a mitigating factor against the development of COVID-19 related mental health difficulties (Dawson & Golijani-Moghaddam, 2020). The psychological flexibility model is a theory that suggests that people can adapt their thoughts, behaviors, and emotions in response to changing circumstances. This ability allows people to manage stress and cope with difficult situations.
ACT effectively reduces psychological distress in a range of populations, including those with anxiety disorders, depression, and chronic pain. The regions of the brain that are involved in stress processing include the amygdala and hippocampus. These regions are responsible for regulating emotions, memory, and motivation. If these regions are dysfunctional, managing stress and coping with difficult situations may be challenging (Brooks et al., 2020). ACT may help people develop a greater sense of self-awareness and understanding of how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors relate to their experience of COVID-related distress. This increased understanding may then support people to adopt more flexible and adaptive responses to the challenges and stressors associated with COVID (Ettman et al., 2020). The use of ACT-based interventions may also help to improve people's psychological resilience or their ability to cope with and recover from difficult life experiences. It could be particularly beneficial for people who experience high levels of COVID-related distress.
The Role of ACT in Mindfulness During COVID-19
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a mindfulness-based psychotherapy that effectively reduces stress during times of crisis, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic. It helps people accept what is happening in the present moment rather than trying to avoid or change it and commit to taking action that aligns with their values. As a result, it can help reduce stress, anxiety, and other negative emotions and increase resilience (Gloster et al., 2020). ACT is a well-established and widely used method for treating stress, anxiety, and depression. It is especially effective in reducing the symptoms of chronic stress, such as fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating (Fonseca et al., 2020). It can also help people better manage stressful situations in their lives, such as work challenges or family tensions.
ACT is often recommended as an initial treatment for people experiencing significant stress levels. It can be helpful for people of all ages and regions to eliminate the stress of COVID-19. ACT is a relatively brief treatment approach that can be delivered in individual sessions or groups. The therapy generally takes about 20-30 minutes to complete, and there is no need for medication or surgery to participate (Bai et al., 2020). ACT can be accessed through online resources, such as the ACT website or apps. ACT is an effective treatment for reducing stress during times of crisis. The therapy is easy to access and delivered in individual or group settings, with minimal side effects (Gloster et al., 2020). In this way, people can overcome the threat of being dead or losing their friends and families. In addition, ACT helps people know that COVID-19 is just a disease that can be treated with effective medication and precautions.
How ACT is Unique from other Mindfulness Techniques?
ACT is unique from other mindfulness techniques like dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) because it helps people focus on their goals and values rather than their thoughts and feelings. ACT also allows people to accept their thoughts and feelings rather than change them (Kroska et al., 2020). DBT is a cognitive-behavioral treatment specifically developed to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder. It helps people learn to manage their emotions and tolerate distress (Bo et al., 2020). In DBT, clients work on building skills such as monitoring and changing their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is an eight-week program that teaches people to focus on the present moment and be nonjudgmental. The goal of MBCT is to help people who have had three or more episodes of major depression in their lifetime to reduce the risk of a future depressive episode (Bradbury-Jones & Isham, 2020). The program is based on the theory that depression is caused by negative thoughts and emotions that keep people enjoying life. Therefore, MBCT teaches people to pay attention to their thoughts and feelings and then helpfully change their thoughts and emotions. As a result, MBCT effectively reduces the risk of a future depressive episode in people who have had three or more bouts of major depression (Karim, 2020).
MBCT is also effective for people who do not have any history of significant depression but have an increased risk of developing it. However, ACT is a newer treatment effective in several populations, including individuals with a borderline personality disorder. In addition, the ACT is unique in that it emphasizes the role of emotions in behavior and relationships. ACT is unique from MBCT in that ACT is a behavioral intervention, while MBCT is a cognitive intervention (Lai et al., 2020). ACT is also unique because it focuses on changing dysfunctional thoughts and behaviors, while MBCT focuses on changing dysfunctional attitudes and beliefs.
Six-Core Processes and Techniques Of ACT during COVID-19/ Pandemic
The six core processes and techniques of ACT to deal with stress during a pandemic and other unwanted events are listed below. Such methods have been successfully assisted people in overcoming their fear of the unknown and known. These techniques are discussed below:
Contacting the Present Moment
Being in the present moment is essential because it allows for mindfulness and focuses on what is happening. It can help people manage stress better and focus on the task at hand. The current pandemic of COVID-19 has created a lot of uncertainty and anxiety for many people. One of the main goals of ACT is to help people live more fully in the present moment. It is done by accepting the present moment's reality and then taking action based on what is essential. It is necessary to stay in the present moment during a pandemic as much as possible (McCracken et al., 2020). It means focusing on what is happening right now and not worrying about the future or past.
The technique suggests avoiding ruminating on how things could have been different or dwelling on the negative aspects of this pandemic. Instead, it focuses on taking action based on your priorities and values. In addition to staying in the present moment during covid-19, it is also essential to maintain a healthy sense of self-care. One must take time for him and enjoy activities that make him happy (Neto et al., 2021). By following these tips, one can maximize your chances of staying in the present moment during the pandemic and avoiding negative thoughts and behaviors.
Defusion
Cognitive defusion is a way to reframe negative thoughts into more manageable pieces. It helps people see their thoughts as just ideas or observations rather than truths determining how they feel and behave. The current pandemic has many people feeling overwhelmed and uncertain (Pakenham et al., 2020). In addition, the global spread of Covid-19 has led to widespread panic and anxiety. These feelings are exacerbated by a sense of powerlessness and a lack of control for many people. In this uncertain and anxious time, it is essential to remember that we can manage our thoughts and feelings. Defusion helps people learn to accept and Commit to their thoughts and feelings rather than control them (Rossi et al., 2020). It can help reduce anxiety and stress and improve mood...