Anxiety

Overview

Integrative Health, like Whole Health, is built around the Circle of Health, which emphasizes the importance of personalized, values-based care that draws in mindful awareness and eight areas of self-care: Physical Activity, Surroundings, Personal Development, Nutrition, Recharge, Family, Friends and Coworkers, Spirit & Soul, Mind and Emotions.  Conventional therapies, prevention, complementary and integrative health (CIH) approaches, and community also have important roles.  The narrative below describes how this approach could have an impact on a person with anxiety.

Depending on individual needs, an Integrative Health approach to anxiety could incorporate a number of different self-care, conventional care, and complementary health approaches.  What a person eats can have a significant effect, as can sleep, which both influences and is influenced by anxiety.  Physical activity, relationships, safety, spirituality, and many other factors also have important effects.  Many professional care approaches can prove useful—even essential, and mind-body approaches are some of the most beneficial, according to the research we have available.  These include an array of psychotherapies, meditation, breath work, biofeedback, and imagery, among other options.  Acupuncture, various supplements, and an array of other approaches have shown benefit, as described in Parts I, II, and III of Integrative Health for Anxiety.