ABSTRACT
At the family level of organization, anxiety can be observed to have some fluidity as it is transferred from member to member. The distribution of anxiety, however, is generally not even, with one or more members containing more than others. This chapter discusses chronic anxiety, allostatic load, and their contribution to an understanding of symptom development. The family systems theory developed by Murray Bowen adds a significant dimension in understanding variation among individuals in their vulnerability to symptom development in response to stress. Stress is inherent to life as individuals adapt to their physical and social environments. The principal physiological stress response systems include the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system and the autonomic nervous system. The vagal system also plays an important role in regulating an individual’s response to threat. According to Porges, the vagal nerve serves the function of freezing as well as mobilizing an individual’s response to threat.
