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Relaxation Techniques Make Some Anxiety Sufferers More Anxious, Study Says

Good thing there's a fix. - by Lucy Bode
  • 02 Oct 2019
Relaxation Techniques Make Some Anxiety Sufferers More Anxious, Study Says

I can’t be the only one that has a mini-meltdown every time I meditate. Empty my mind? Release all tension? Way easier said than done. Which is why this new study out of Penn State University comes as a comfort: we now know the reason why relaxation-induced anxiety exists.

Researchers recruited 96 college students, including 32 people with generalised anxiety disorder and 34 people with major depressive disorder. First, the participants were taken through a series of relaxation exercises. Then, they were made to watch videos that elicited fear or sadness and answer a list of questions designed to measure how sensitive they were to changes in their emotional state. (e.g. how quickly they moved from a calm mindset to a negative one.) Next, the researchers led the participants through a second relaxation session and followed this up with another survey to measure their anxiety levels.

The researchers found that people with generalised anxiety disorder were more likely to be sensitive to sharp spikes in their emotion. Additionally, they were more likely to feel wired during sessions intended to chill them out. So what gives?

RELATED: Watching 'Friends' Can Help Reduce Anxiety, Says Study

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The study’s authors put it down to a subconscious - but strategic - choice by the brain to resist relaxation and continue worrying in case something bad does in fact happen.

“The theory revolves around the idea that people may make themselves anxious intentionally as a way to avoid the letdown they might get if something bad were to happen,” Michelle Newman, professor of psychology explains. “This isn’t actually helpful and just makes you more miserable. But, because most of the things we worry about don’t end up happening, what’s reinforced in the brain is, ‘I worried and it didn’t happen so I should continue worrying.’”

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The fix? Lean into these shifts in your mindset – no matter how scary it feels.  

“The more you do it, the more you realise you can do it and it’s better to allow yourself to be relaxed at times. Mindfulness training and other interventions can help people let go and live in the moment.”

RELATED: How To Tell If You Have Generalised Anxiety Disorder, According To A Psychologist

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Lucy Bode
Lucy Bode
Lucy is Women Health’s digital editor, social media specialist and the go-to girl for all things holistic wellness. Her background as a journalist and passion for food, fitness and integrative medicine has led her to write for some of Australia’s leading publications over the course of her career.

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