THE IMPACT OF THE WAR-INDUCED, UNSTABLE LIVING CONDITIONS ON PERSONALITY’S MENTAL HEALTH

Abstract

The purpose of the article. Our work examines the psychological features of the main types of destructive ways of responding to unstable living conditions and their impact on one’s mental health and personal efficiency. The growing number of people facing unstable life conditions and those needing effective psychological strategies to overcome stress and crises are the basis of our study's relevance. The majority of the trauma studies in the field of psychology are devoted to studying the impact of the most common short-term trauma, but the conditions we find ourselves in recently are forcing people to adjust to uncertainty and the traumatizing events that happen to have no visible ending point. The adjustment to long-term trauma means that one comes to realize that there’s no point in postponing life until after the trauma, but rather learning to live one’s life to the fullest and grab every possible opportunity for self-actualization. It is well known that one’s reactions to stressful and unstable situations can be constructive or destructive. The paper aims to identify and analyze the main types of destructive reactions, such as somatization, distress, depression, and anxiety, as well as to study their impact on personal traits that correspond with personal growth and self-actualization. Research methods. We applied the following methods to meet the research tasks: psychological testing, analysis of psychological literature, and statistical methods of data processing, which enable a deeper understanding of the ways the mechanisms of destructive responses to unstable living conditions are formed. Results. The paper examines theoretical approaches to understanding destructive behavioral patterns and their application in psychological assistance. We were able to prove the suggestion that destructive ways of responding, such as anxiety, distress, depression, and somatization complicate the process of self-actualization significantly, reducing the level of personal growth and self-knowledge. We also offer recommendations on the optional techniques for reducing the impact of destructive reactions and supporting positive personality development for psychological assistance and mental health protection. Conclusions. The study results can be effective for psychology practitioners, psychotherapists, and other mental health professionals. They can also become the basis for further scientific research in stress management psychology and psychotherapy. As such, some of the results were presented at the round table “Mental health during the war: challenges and perspectives”. Keywords: distress, unstable living conditions, self-development, self-actualization, influence