The Promise of Applying Systems Theory and Integrative Health Approaches to the Current Psychosocial Stress Pandemic

Abstract

Background: Chronic stress in Western society may currently be characterized as a public health concern at pandemic levels and may be at risk of crossing a tipping point, as evidenced by major societal unrest. While evolutionarily, activation of the body’s sympathetic nervous system (SNS) exists to protect the individual by triggering the ‘fight or flight’ response, this response has been observed to be chronically occurring in a significant number of individuals in Western society. This chronically stressed physiological state has been linked to numerous physical health problems, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes, as well as mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, and behavioral problems such as addictions. When considered in the framework of Systems Theory, the multiple levels of stress – including individual, relationship, and societal levels – may be viewed as interacting and thus compounding features of the system. In this context, this paper also briefly discusses the potential benefits of using Integrative Health treatment approaches as a priority to counter the pandemic’s multiple levels of psychosocial stress. Objective: This paper strives to examine the pandemic of psychosocial stress in Western society in terms of a Systems Theory and Integrative Health framework. Conclusion: The next logical step in attempting to avoid and abate more disastrous results of the stress pandemic would include examining effective and promising treatments for chronic stress. Therefore, the present paper recommends the pursuit of extensive research into effective treatments for stress, especially examining treatments that take a whole-person or integrative approach.