“The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.”

Attributed to both Jim Goodwin and Sydney J. Harris

Have you ever been told to “just relax?” Of course feeling relaxed would be ideal– this is why we come to get help in the first place! But anyone who has felt panic or extreme anxiety knows “just” relaxing is much easier said than done.

One set of skills used to supplement other CBT skills (such as exposure and cognitive skills) are relaxation skills. Relaxation skills address anxiety from the standpoint of the body by reducing muscle tension, slowing down breathing, and calming the mind. Relaxation skills can be structured; examples are slow diaphragmatic breathing, meditation, and yoga. Other factors, such as self-care and enjoying pleasurable activities, are also helpful to make us feel more relaxed. In this module we’ll explore some of these strategies, explaining how they are used and why they work.

As we will emphasize in this section, relaxation skills are best used in conjunction with other CBT skills and are most effective when practiced consistently. Different skills work for different people, so the first step is to try to find the relaxation strategies that appeal to you and try them out. Enjoy!