Why do I feel more anxious when I try to relax?

Feeling more anxious when trying to relax is a paradoxical but common experience that can be deeply frustrating when you're seeking relief from Psychological stress. This phenomenon, sometimes called relaxation-induced Anxiety disorder, occurs for several interconnected reasons related to how your nervous system and emotions function. When you're constantly busy or stimulated, your mind stays occupied with external tasks and doesn't have space to process underlying emotions or concerns. The moment you slow down, suppressed feelings, worries, or physical sensations that were pushed aside during busy periods can suddenly surface, creating a flood of Anxiety disorder. Your nervous system might also be accustomed to a certain level of stimulation or Psychological stress. When you suddenly remove that stimulation by trying to relax, your system can interpret this coping with change as threatening or unfamiliar, triggering Anxiety disorder as a way to return to its familiar activated state. This is particularly common for people who have experienced chronic Psychological stress or Psychological trauma, where hypervigilance becomes the norm. Some people unconsciously managing fear losing control or being vulnerable, and relaxation requires letting your guard down. If you've learned to associate safety with being alert and prepared, relaxation can feel dangerous even when you're objectively safe. The physical sensations of relaxation - slower heart rate, deeper breathing, muscle release - can also feel unfamiliar or uncomfortable if you're used to tension, sometimes triggering Anxiety disorder about these new sensations. Additionally, when your mind isn't occupied with tasks, it might default to worrying about future events or analyzing past situations. The quiet space that relaxation creates can become filled with anxious thoughts if you haven't developed skills for managing mental chatter. To work with relaxation-induced Anxiety disorder, start with very brief periods of relaxation and gradually increase the duration as your nervous system adapts. Try active relaxation techniques like gentle yoga or walking mindful meditation" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Meditation rather than passive relaxation like lying still. Practice accepting whatever feelings arise during relaxation without judgment, understanding that this is part of the process of healing process and rebalancing your nervous system.