Relaxation makes worriers more anxious
14 October, 2019
Some people become more anxious as they attempt to relax because relaxing interrupts their worrying, according to new research.
Although the intent of relaxation exercises is to reduce anxiety, for some people, they have the opposite effect.
A new study concludes that, in these people, relaxation conflicts with a strategy that they employ to lessen the impact of negative events: continual worrying.
The authors of the study were Michelle Newman, a professor of psychology, and Hanjoo Kim, a graduate student in psychology, both at Penn State University, in College Park, PA.
The team summarized their findings in a paper that appears in the December issue of the Journal of Affective Disorders.
Why worry?
In 2011, Prof. Newman developed the theory of "contrast avoidance." She explains, "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."
Worrying is, according to this theory, essentially an attempt to "pay in advance" for something that may happen.
"This isn't actually helpful," says Prof. Newman. Yet, given that most of the things one is apt to worry about never occur, the brain's takeaway may be, she says, "'I worried and it didn't happen, so I should continue worrying.'"
"People may be staying anxious to prevent a large shift in anxiety," continues Prof. Newman, "but it's actually healthier to let yourself experience those shifts."
She adds, "The more you do it, the more you realize you can do it, and it's better to allow yourself to be relaxed at times."
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