The reduction of pressure or the process of expanding from a compressed state; relief from stress or tension.
From Latin prefix de- (reversal) + compression, from comprimere 'to press together.' The term gained prominence in the 20th century with aviation and deep-sea diving, where pressure changes became critical safety concerns.
Decompression beautifully bridges the physical and metaphorical - divers must literally decompress to avoid the bends, while stressed people need to decompress emotionally. The word captures how pressure, whether physical or psychological, requires gradual release.
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