GAZING INTO THE ABYSS: TOWARD A PHILOSOPHICAL UNDERSTANDING OF ANXIETY AND FEAR.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: This paper deals with anxiety or fear-related disorders and philosophical interpretations of the phenomena of fear and anxiety. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The authors used integrative anthropological approach, interpretive research paradigm, hermeneutical approach. The data collec¬tion was carried out using Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar databases. Research papers were identified according to search terms: "anxiety or fear-related disorders", "fear", "anxiety", "phobia", "psychology", "psychotherapy", "mental health", "philosophy", "being-in-the-world", "human existence". CONCLUSION: Conclusion: It is obvious that philosophical interpretations of the phenomena of fear and anxiety cannot be defined in clinical terms, especially given the fact that modern psychology, psychotherapy, and psychiatry are shifting towards evidence-based practices. Furthermore, there are significant differences in determining the causes that provoke mental health disorders (nature, nurture, their interaction or something else) and accordingly in choosing treatment methods. Apparently, the position of the researchers/practitioners will be determined by their understanding of the root cause. However, more and more researchers are coming to the conclusion that the contemporary world demonstrates the urgent need for an integral, holistic paradigm of a human as an undivided, alive and organic, ideal and material being that should be understood in the context, taking into account the socio-cultural, biological, narrative, self-relational dimensions and his/her ability to transcend them. That is why the most effective way to help people with anxiety or fear-related disorders is to develop "the optimal combination of social assistance, psychological therapy, transpersonal experience, and medical treatment. It should be based on a new transdisciplinary paradigm and implemented by an interdisciplinary team of specialists". In this process, a special role should be assigned to philosophy, which is able to expand horizons and find an approach to the core of a human being.

PHILOSOPHY AND MENTAL HEALTH.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: The paper aims to examine the relationship between philosophy and mental health. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The authors used integrative anthropological approach, interpretive research paradigm, hermeneutical approach. The data collection was carried out using Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar databases. Research papers were identified according to search terms: "mental health", "philosophy", "Ancient philosophy", "Epicureanism", "Stoicism", "Eastern philosophy", "Buddhism", "Taoism", "psychology", "psychotherapy", "anxiety", "depression", "happiness", "mindfulness", "meaning in life". CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Attempts to cope with life challenges, frustration, fear, anxiety, stress should not be isolated endeavors, but they need to be placed in a wider philosophical context, as far as every issue, including mental health issues, has a philosophical perspective at its core. Such experience can cultivate human strength, self-confidence, awareness, empathy. In times of uncertainty, when we do not know where to go, when we do not understand who we are and what is our purpose on earth, philosophy helps us to find our way. In the most difficult times, philosophy acts as a guiding star and consolation reconciling us with what we are unable to change.

ON WAR, UNCERTAINTY, AND FUTURE: LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE EASTERN PHILOSOPHY.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: The paper aims to examine the relationship between uncertainty and plans for the future in traumatic situations such as war, as well as the role of the Eastern philosophy and its practical implications in managing uncertainty. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The authors used integrative anthropological approach, interpretive research paradigm, hermeneutical approach along with narrative approach. The data collection was carried out using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar databases. Research papers were identified according to search terms "uncertainty", "mental health", "health", "refugee", "anxiety", "depression", "war", "future", "Eastern philosophy", "mindfulness". CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Bearing a set of negative beliefs about uncertainty and reacting negatively to uncertain and unpredictable situations, individuals fall into a vicious cycle of uncertainty fueled by their fear of uncertainty. Uncertainty takes us to the future that seems threatening or returns us to the world of primordial chaos. In both cases, we are not in the present moment, "here and now". As far as we have no control over the past and future, we feel helpless and experience fear, anxiety, depression. Returning to the present gives us back control over the situation. By expanding the range of possible visions of the future, we stop focusing on the worst-case scenario. By accepting the situation and realizing what is subject to our control and what is not, we learn to comfort uncertainty by elaborating possible futures taking into account both our desires and the current situation. Our thoughts and actions today determine our tomorrow. We cannot overcome uncertainty since it is ontologically predetermined. But we can manage our responses to uncertainty turning to the Eastern philosophy thereby maintaining our mental and physical health and expanding the functional field of human capabilities to achieve freedom and self-realization.

ON SOCIAL NETWORKS, DIGITAL MEDIA, AND MENTAL HEALTH.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: The paper attempts to investigate the impact of social networks and digital media on mental health and psychological well-being. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The data collection was carried out using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar databases. Research papers were identified according to the search terms "cyberspace", "cyberpsychology", "digital media", "virtual reality", "social networks", "mental health", "psychological well-being", "beauty", "beauty standards". The authors used integrative anthropological approach, interpretive research paradigm, and multidisciplinary analysis. CONCLUSION: Conclusion: The digital world is a relatively recent phenomenon, therefore, the potential relationship between its use and mental health and psychological well-being has not yet been adequately explored. Most of the research has been conducted over the last decades; and until now the scientific community has not been able to fully interpret the obtained results and come to final conclusions. As Timpano and Beard rightly pointed out, the future research should be focused on types and motivations for the use of social networks; identify potential mechanisms linking the social media use and mental health symptoms; reveal an impact of social networks on declines in face-to-face social interactions; understand the link of social networks with maladaptive coping strategies and health behaviors. The relationship between social networks, digital media use and psychological functioning is not straightforward and depends on many factors. However, we should not forget that there is nothing new under the sun. The same people act in both digital and physical spaces. And the psychological problems that are revealed in the digital universe are the same that "accompany" the actors of the digital communication process in the real, physical world. Anyway, we cannot avoid cyberspace, so we have to learn how to interact within this challenging world.

EFFECTS OF THE EASTERN MIND-BODY PRACTICES ON MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: WHEN EAST MEETS WEST.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: The paper aims at reviewing the recent studies on the impact of the Eastern mind-body practices on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The recent studies (2020 - 2021) on the Eastern mind-body practices in combating the psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic were identified in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar. Research papers were found by using the keywords "mental health", "psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic", "Eastern mind-body practices", "meditation", "mindfulness", "yoga", "tai chi", "qigong". A total of 27 selected publications were analyzed based on our criteria. Given the relatively small number of relevant articles in recent years, we also examined papers published before 2020. Along with the aforementioned, the authors used integrative anthropological approach and interpretive research paradigm. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The Eastern mind-body practices are becoming increasingly popular, especially now when the outbreak of COVID-19 has created mental health concerns among the general population worldwide. They may prove an effective preventive or therapeutical intervention for mental health issues during and after the pandemic. However, the underlying mechanisms of these techniques are still insufficiently studied. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a well-planned study and interpret it from multiply perspectives involving an interdisciplinary team of specialists.