ANXIETY AND DISEASE . [To the Editor of THE Srac-evron.]
SIR,—In your " News of the Week !' of September 18th you give
• some of the indubitable causes Of the increase of anxiety in
the present age, of which the absence of a satisfying religious symbolism is definitely of major importance. There are two others to which I will refer later. May I first point out that anxiety is a normal constitutional . expression ? If Libido (Jung), Elan-Vital (Bergson), the life-force by whatever names it is called, is directed outwardly. it finds-expression in move- Merit,-force, authority, cruelty, 'arid the 'other male forms of -expression. If, however, it-is dammed up for use subjectively it becOmes anxiety. Entirely normal. to the adolescent girl -child, it should ultimately find its expression in reproduction, -a mode of satisfaction denied at the present time, not only to the bachelor woman, .birt to the larger number of married women during almost the whole period of the 25 years of possible prOductivity.. In boys, after they have entered on their (male) pubertal years this subjectiVe (fernale) use of libido must be expressed in creative artistry, or inventive genius, otherwise it is certain to be felt as anxiety, Until the tension is broken by a physical expression in the- fcirna of disease..
The monotonous grind for bare existence gives no encourage- merit creativeness" in man; or joy in motherhood in woman. This leads to the inevitable conclusion that it is to economic reform that we must look to make both physical reprodUctivity and creative artistry available widely asa aatural and normal expression of anxiety.—Yours, &c.,
48 New Cavendish Street. W .1
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