Which two relaxation techniques are commonly used in CBT and their effects?

• A. Guided imagery increases arousal; rapid breathing is norm.
• B. Progressive muscle relaxation reduces muscle tension; diaphragmatic breathing reduces physiological arousal.
• C. Progressive muscle relaxation increases arousal; diaphragmatic breathing has no effect.
• D. Meditation with mantras replaces exposure.

Answer: (B)

Managing physiological arousal and bodily tension is central in CBT for anxiety. Progressive muscle relaxation teaches people to systematically tense and then release muscle groups, which heightens awareness of tension and gradually reduces muscle tension across the body. As tension fades, overall arousal drops, making it easier to engage in the cognitive work of CBT, such as challenging anxious thoughts and approaching feared situations. Diaphragmatic breathing, or abdominal breathing, slows and deepens breaths, activating the body’s relaxation response and lowering physiological arousal like rapid heartbeat and shallow breathing. This combination helps calm the body during exposure or worry periods, which in turn supports clearer thinking and better coping. Together, these techniques address the physical symptoms that can reinforce anxiety, helping clients tolerate and progress through exposure and cognitive strategies. The other options misstate the effects or use of these techniques—one suggests arousal increases when these practices aim to reduce it, another claims no effect, and another incorrectly frames meditation as replacing exposure.