The Relaxation Solution

Many readers feel wound up or strained and long for a little ease. The book begins by making clear that this reaction is common and not a personal failing. Family responsibilities, money worries, illness, and demanding jobs surround most people, and over time many have learned to brace against these pressures without noticing they are doing it. The author traces this automatic tightening to the unconscious mind, but because the habit was learned, it can also be unlearned.

Stephen Diamond argues that the answer has been present all along and sets out to show it through a fresh take on mindfulness. Readers who found mindfulness or meditation unhelpful before may find this approach better suited to them. Those who already benefit from these practices are offered a way to take that work further and reach more deeply.

The book contains a series of exercises and meditations that lead readers step by step toward discovering the solution for themselves. The aim is to release stress before it can do damage, to move beyond tension and anxiety, and to reach a genuinely relaxed state. The volume also includes free online access to 35 minutes of guided meditation audio recorded by the author.