TRE® – Quick Overview

What is Tension and Trauma Release Exercise (TRE®) ?

Developed by Dr David Berceli, TRE® is a self-help technique that deliberately activates our bodies’ instinctive tremor mechanism in a safe and controlled way.  Session by session, these tremors help to release the build up of  muscular tension patterns that have built up in the body during stressful and traumatic life experiences.

Slight trembling occurs naturally in life when our nervous system is over-activated and it has a function – it is our organisms natural way of bringing the nervous system back into a calm and balanced state (homeostasis). In a crisis nearly everyone has experienced trembling (also during high excitement of the positive sort) but the phenomenon has been misunderstood in the medical world and people have come to associate it with weakness. Yet, in many cultures and historically, shaking is known to be a healthy recovery mechanism.[spacer height=”20px”]

The TRE exercises are designed to activate muscle groups from the ankle upward to the centre of gravity of the body, which is protected by the psoas muscles. When shaking is evoked in these powerful core muscles, it slowly but surely pulsates throughout the entire body travelling along the spine, releasing deep chronic tension.
When tension is released anywhere in the body, the brain registers a reduction in stress signals and lowers the output of stress hormones.

Regular TRE practice helps with:

• • quality of sleep and normalise sleeping patterns

• • stress related headaches and migraine

• • general anxiety

• • anger issues (reactiveness)

• • chronic pain, especially back and neck pain

• • pain and stiffness related to operations and old injuries

• • the tendency to ‘space out’ or ‘go blank’ under stress

• • avoidance habits (such as being fearful of certain activities or places due to negative past experiences)

• • unhealthy habits of self-soothing and self-medication (such as emotional eating, using drugs or alcohol etc.)

TRE® is being taught and used successfully in more than 60 countries for recovery from chronic stress symptoms related to trauma. It is a physical way of releasing tension and does not require you to talk about your experiences. The body ‘knows’ what to do and how to do it – this mechanism being a natural way of stress release. However, every stress and trauma therapy that involves talking and sharing will benefit from the physical release. You are simply much calmer, sleep better and have a better emotional capacity. Long term TRE® is proven to raise physical and emotional resilience.

Disclaimer: If you are currently in Psychiatric care and are taking psychotropic medication, you may still be able to use TRE but you are advised to ALWAYS work with a certified TRE Provider and include your Therapist in the process. The same applies if you are diagnosed with Bi-Polar Disorder, PTSD or Developmental Trauma. If you suspect you may suffer from one of these conditions and are not diagnosed, you are also advised to work with a certified TRE Provider. It is of importance that your TRE experience is a positive one that empowers you and the best way to guarantee this is to work with someone who knows the method inside out and can answer all your questions.