A Holistic Approach to Anxiety and Stress*

The holistic approach is a total, multifaceted view. It follows the principle that phenomena like anxiety and stress are extremely complex. They cannot be explained or dealt with using a narrow, unilateral, singular, or simple approach. All factors must be seen and dealt with. In the understanding of biopsychosocial conditions, one must take into account the past as well as the present. External as well as inner causative factors should be studied. There should be an integration of biological, psychological, and social orientations. If this is not done, then one's conclusions are based on partial observations rather than on the whole picture.

Stress is a pressure or strain upon the organism and may be physical, emotional, mental, or spritual. It may ultimately produce inner conflict; anxiety, and reactions of defense. Stress is the price the organism has to pay for its excessive adaptational reactions.

Anxiety is a response of malaise and anguish. It is a feeling of impending doom and is associated with apprehension. Although anxiety may exist in pure form, it is frequently diverted through destructive and futile mechanisms of defense into somatic, mental, emotional, and spiritual reactions. There is a close bond and a definite link between anxiety and stress.

Stress need not be accompanied by anxiety in its early stages. If it continues over a period of time it can lead, to various, usually disguised, anxiety reactions. Considerable overlap in regard to causes and effects exists between stress and anxiety. There is a two-way reaction. Stress will lead to anxiety, and anxiety sooner or later will become stressful. A condition of stress will result from overwork, loss of sleep, physical exhaustion, deadline type of work, repeated obstacles and setbacks, and unfavorable situations.

Anxiety is always accompanied by stress and takes a physical and emotional toll. If anxiety is frequent, recurrent, and of long duration, the stress effect is more evident. In regard to somatic