Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/WmktGi8VmbA

 

Are you or do you know a person who becomes more jittery when trying to relax.  Psychologists at Penn State studied this so called “relaxation-induced anxiety” in a group of 96 college students.

 

One-third of subjects had generalized anxiety disorders; one-third had major depression; and one-third were without issues.  All participants did relaxation exercises before seeing scary or sad videos.  Those with anxiety problems experienced more trepidation and fear during relaxation sessions as almost a defense mechanism against the emotional plunge they just knew was coming.  

 

If this sounds like you, know that you are not alone.  The good news: repeated relaxation sessions can immunize you against experiencing this paradoxical anxiety.

 

Hanjoo Kim, Michelle G. Newman. The paradox of relaxation training: Relaxation induced anxiety and mediation effects of negative contrast sensitivity in generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 2019; 259: 271 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.08.045

 

#Anxiety #relaxation