Relaxation-induced anxiety: Mechanisms and theoretical implications
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People with GAD appear particularly likely to feel anxious when they relax.
“Also consistent with a fear of letting down their guard, people with GAD seem to be especially prone to experiencing relaxation induced anxiety (Heide & Borkovec, 1983, 1984).”
From A novel theory of experiential avoidance in generalized anxiety disorder: A review and synthesis of research supporting a contrast avoidance model of worry (2011) · cites this paper as Heide & Borkovec, 1984
RIA is likely to occur when an individual attempts to avoid or control private events that occur during relaxation.
“The points outlined by Heide and Borkovec suggest that RIA is likely to occur when an individual attempts to avoid or control private events that occur during relaxation.”
From How Exactly Do I “Let Go”? The Potential of Using ACT to Overcome the Relaxation Paradox (2014) · cites this paper as Heide & Borkovec, 1984
Relaxation induced anxiety (RIA) and relaxation induced panic (RIP) occur when a person's attempts to reduce anxiety result in increased arousal.
“Relaxation induced anxiety (RIA) or relaxation induced panic (RIP) occurs when a person's attempts to reduce anxiety result in increased arousal.”
From How Exactly Do I “Let Go”? The Potential of Using ACT to Overcome the Relaxation Paradox (2014) · cites this paper as Heide & Borkovec, 1984
Cites
Preliminary exploration of worry: Some characteristics and processes
Borkovec, T. D., Robinson, E., Pruzinsky, T., & DePree, J. A. (1983) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(83)90121-3 · Cited by 1,468 · see citing works
Self-citationGoldstein, A. J., & Chambless, D. L. (1978) · Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1016/s0005-7894(78)80053-7 · Cited by 572 · see citing works
Relaxation-induced anxiety: Paradoxical anxiety enhancement due to relaxation training
Heide, F. J., & Borkovec, T. D. (1983) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.51.2.171 · Cited by 223 · see citing works
Self-citationBorkovec, T. D., & Sides, J. K. (1979) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(79)90020-2 · Cited by 146 · see citing works
Self-citationMetabolic and EEG changes during transcendental meditation: An explanation
Fenwick, P. B. C., Donaldson, S., Gillis, P. L., Bushman, J., Fenton, P. G. W., Perry, I., Tilsley, C., & Serafinowicz, H. (1977) · Biological Psychology · doi:10.1016/0301-0511(77)90007-2 · Cited by 74 · see citing works
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Anxiety, sensitivity, anxiety frequency, and the prediction of fearfulness
Reiss, S., Peterson, R. A., Gursky, D. M., & McNally, R. J. (1986) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(86)90143-9 · Cited by 3,169 · see citing works
Psychological Treatments That Cause Harm
Lilienfeld, S. O. (2007) · Perspectives on Psychological Science · doi:10.1111/j.1745-6916.2007.00029.x · Cited by 959 · see citing works
Behavioral treatment of panic disorder
Barlow, D. H., Craske, M. G., Cerny, J. A., & Klosko, J. S. (1989) · Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1016/s0005-7894(89)80073-5 · Cited by 627 · see citing works
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“Also consistent with a fear of letting down their guard, people with GAD seem to be especially prone to experiencing relaxation induced anxiety (Heide & Borkovec, 1983, 1984).”
BackgroundApplied relaxation: Description of a coping technique and review of controlled studies
Öst, L.-G. (1987) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(87)90017-9 · Cited by 605 · see citing works
Muris, P., Merckelbach, H., & Horselenberg, R. (1996) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(96)00005-8 · Cited by 281 · see citing works
Are emotions frightening? An extension of the fear of fear construct
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Adverse events in meditation practices and meditation‐based therapies: a systematic review
Farias, M., Maraldi, E., Wallenkampf, K. C., & Lucchetti, G. (2020) · Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica · doi:10.1111/acps.13225 · Cited by 262 · see citing works
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Systematic Review of Relaxation Interventions for Pain
Kwekkeboom, K. L., & Gretarsdottir, E. (2006) · Journal of Nursing Scholarship · doi:10.1111/j.1547-5069.2006.00113.x · Cited by 169 · see citing works
Ironic effects of trying to relax under stress
Wegner, D. M., Broome, A., & Blumberg, S. J. (1997) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/s0005-7967(96)00078-2 · Cited by 117 · see citing works
Assessment and treatment of nocturnal panic attacks
Craske, M. G., & Tsao, J. C. I. (2005) · Sleep Medicine Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2004.11.003 · Cited by 112 · see citing works
Worry and Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Borkovec, T. D., & Newman, M. G. (1998) · Comprehensive Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1016/b0080-4270(73)00201-7 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
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Relaxation: Some limitations, side effects, and proposed solutions.
Lazarus, A. A., & Mayne, T. J. (1990) · Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training · doi:10.1037/0033-3204.27.2.261 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Distinct functional connectivities predict clinical response with emotion regulation therapy
Fresco, D. M., Roy, A. K., Adelsberg, S., Seeley, S., García-Lesy, E., Liston, C., & Mennin, D. S. (2017) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2017.00086 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
“Individuals with GAD commonly exhibit paradoxical acute anxiety when instructed to relax (e.g., Heide and Borkovec, 1984) and express greater success in coping with fear and sadness inducing probes with worry as compared to relaxation or neutral instructions (e.g., Llera and Newman, 2010).”
BackgroundRelationship of client participation to psychotherapy
Nelson, R. A., & Borkovec, T. D. (1989) · Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/0005-7916(89)90048-7 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Self-citationCognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Newman, M. G., Zainal, N. H., & Hoyer, J. (2020) · Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Worrying · doi:10.1002/9781119189909.ch10 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Newman, M. G., Lafreniere, L. S., & Jacobson, N. C. (2018) · Psychotherapy Research · doi:10.1080/10503307.2016.1253891 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
How Exactly Do I “Let Go”? The Potential of Using ACT to Overcome the Relaxation Paradox
Wilson, C. J., Barnes-Holmes, Y., & Barnes-Holmes, D. (2014) · SAGE Open · doi:10.1177/2158244014526722 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“Alternatively, Heide and Borkovec (1984) argued that the nature and extent of an individual’s evaluations of the relaxation technique influences the outcome, because the individual is attending to intrusive private events.”
BackgroundInfluential
- Authors
- Heide, F. J., & Borkovec, T. D.
- Affiliations
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- Venue
- Behaviour Research and Therapy
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1984
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1-12
- ISSN
- 0005-7967 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1971760854
- Cited by
- 168
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 10.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Behaviour Research and Therapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
- Keywords
- relaxation training, generalized anxiety disorder, fear of losing control, interpersonal anxiety, anxiety maintenance, anxiety development
- MeSH terms
- Agoraphobia, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Cues, Humans, Relaxation Therapy
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