There are numerous benefits to the relaxed state including lowered blood pressure, decreased heat rate, increased body temperature, decreased anxiety associated with painful situations, easing of muscle tension pain such as in contractures, a general sense of intense calm, decreased symptoms of depression and stress, decreasing fatigue. Other benefits include helping the client to sleep, increasing the effects of medications, improvements in side effects of cancer therapy (decreased nausea, vomiting, and anxiety) and AIDS therapy, assisting in preparation for surgery or other treatments, and helping to dissociate from pain (Free- man, 2004, Payne, 2005). In addition to the therapeutic benefits, relaxation techniques also give clients a sense of control by enabling them to bring about certain psychological and mental responses by themselves.