Relaxation techniques help clients with anxiety disorders because they can promote which of the following?

• A. A decrease in self-awareness
• B. An increase in avoidance behaviors
• C. A reduction in physiological arousal
• D. A heightened sense of threat

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the role of relaxation techniques in anxiety disorders. These techniques are designed to help reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as increased heart rate, muscle tension, and rapid breathing.
2. Step 2: Recognize that anxiety often involves heightened physiological arousal, which means the body's fight-or-flight response is activated, leading to symptoms like sweating, trembling, and increased heart rate.
3. Step 3: Identify that relaxation techniques aim to counteract this by promoting a state of calmness, which reduces physiological arousal. This helps clients feel less physically anxious and more in control.
4. Step 4: Evaluate the answer choices by considering their relationship to anxiety symptoms: a decrease in self-awareness or an increase in avoidance behaviors do not directly address physiological symptoms, and a heightened sense of threat would worsen anxiety.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the most accurate effect of relaxation techniques is a reduction in physiological arousal, which directly alleviates the physical symptoms of anxiety and supports overall anxiety management.