As Ramadan approaches next month, families across the GCC are beginning to prepare—not just practically, but emotionally. The Islamic holy month, observed by millions across the region, will reshape more than meal times, it quietly recalibrates the emotional terrain of those who observe it.
The transformation, experts say, isn’t always comfortable. That first week can feel like wading through fog: fatigue sets in, irritability spikes, and the body protests its new rhythm. Regional surveys suggest that between 30 and 40 percent of people experience these temporary mood fluctuations as sleep cycles shift, hydration patterns change, and blood sugar levels recalibrate. Yet by the month’s end, something remarkable tends to emerge. Multiple studies have documented what many observers instinctively feel: measurable drops in anxiety, stress, and depressive symptoms compared to the weeks before Ramadan begins.
When the Noise Stops, What Do We Hear?
Dr. Dana Jammal, a Counselling Psychologist at Thrive Wellbeing Centre, has spent years observing this annual psychological shift in her clinical practice. She describes Ramadan as a period when life simply slows down, not just externally, but internally.
“Ramadan alters internal rhythms as much as external routines,” Dr. Jammal explains. “The slower pace of life, combined with spiritual focus and reduced stimulation, often creates space for greater emotional awareness.”
It’s in this space, she notes, that emotions begin to surface with unusual clarity. Patterns that were always there—accumulated stress, unresolved tensions in relationships, the habitual reach for food when emotions become uncomfortable suddenly come into focus. Not because fasting creates these dynamics, but because it removes the noise that usually drowns them out.
“With fewer distractions and a more deliberate daily rhythm, individuals often begin to notice emotional patterns that are usually overlooked,” Dr. Jammal observes. The revelation can be unsettling. Many people don’t realize how much they’ve been using food not just for nourishment, but as a buffer against difficult feelings.
The Double Edge of Awareness
This heightened sensitivity cuts both ways. While many experience improved mood and emotional balance as Ramadan progresses, the early days often feel raw. Physical adjustment amplifies emotional reactivity. Small frustrations loom larger. Patience wears thin.
Yet Dr. Jammal views this discomfort not as a problem to be solved, but as information to be understood. In her therapeutic work, she’s found that this window of vulnerability often becomes a turning point, a moment when clients can identify what genuinely supports their wellbeing and what has been masking deeper needs.
“Fasting does not create these emotional themes, but rather brings existing ones into clearer focus,” she says. The question isn’t whether these patterns exist, but whether we’re willing to see them.
The Power of the Collective
If heightened self-awareness is Ramadan’s challenge, community is its comfort. The month’s emphasis on shared meals, collective prayer, and spiritual connection creates what psychologists call a protective factor for mental health. Research consistently points to this communal dimension, the sense of meaning, belonging, and shared purpose—as central to the emotional uplift many experience.
There’s something profound about breaking fast together, about knowing that millions of others are moving through the same rhythm, holding the same intention. It transforms what could be isolating into something deeply connective.
An Invitation, Not Just an Obligation
Dr. Jammal is careful to reframe what Ramadan asks of those who observe it. “Ramadan is not solely about abstaining, but about understanding oneself more deeply,” she emphasizes. “The act of fasting can slow the mind enough to reveal patterns of stress, self-criticism, unmet relational needs or unhelpful coping strategies.”
When approached with this kind of intention, the month becomes more than a religious obligation or a test of willpower. It becomes a rare opportunity—to notice what we’ve been carrying, to recognize what we’ve been avoiding, and perhaps to choose something different.
As GCC residents prepare for the holy month ahead, Thrive Wellbeing Centre offers a gentle reframing: view Ramadan not only as a time of fasting, but as an invitation to reflection, to connection, and to emotional growth.
The body may protest. The emotions may surface. But in that discomfort lies something valuable: the chance to see ourselves more clearly, and to move forward more intentionally.
For additional information and resources, visit www.thrive.ae
Editor’s Note: Based on information provided by Thrive Wellbeing Centre.
