First cash/dollars are considered bad so they collapse in price. When the psychology shifts, suddenly the dollar climbs in value and itself bubbles over, causing a recession.
When Cash becomes king, for whatever reason, it behooves the economy to sell of all other assets and buy Cash.
The closer to cash you get (1Y high grade commercial paper, 1Y Treasury, 3M Treasury, 1 month commercial paper, money market, savings account, dollars under a mattress...), the better you deal with such circumstances.