Slow down, you relax too fast: Where the mind goes, the body follows - Think Healthy

Shape, May, 2002 by Sharon Cohen

We know stress can make us sick. But often we get sick not during a stressful period, but afterward, especially on weekends or vacations. Blame the Letdown Effect, says Marc Schoen, Ph.D., an assistant clinical professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine, who specializes in mind/body issues.

Research shows that too-rapid destressing causes biochemical changes in the body that lower immunity and can even lead to bouts of depression and panic attacks. The key to preventing this, Schoen says, is learning how to relax more slowly, and the way to do it is by slightly activating, or "energizing," your body. You can learn the simple techniques in Schoen's book, When Relaxation Is Hazardous to Your Health: Why We Get Sick After the Stress is Over, and What You Can Do Now to Protect Your Health (Mind Body Health Books, 2001).