Overwhelming Tre Experience

[Goingtobemyself]

I just had a very overwhelming experience with TRE. I've tried it several times before, but never with such a strong emotionel reaction as today. Today was completely different. I have had some very hard couple og days after a very good periode( helped by EMDR), but today I was far from relaxed When I saw my Therapist. I started pretty fast to shake slightly, and also saw the eyes of my assailant. It caused anxiety, but suddenly it all became very violent. I screamed and cried and tightened dramatically in the body several times - a truly severe anxiety that I could not control even though I desperately tried to hold it back. But I didn't have any flashbacks. Subsequently, I feel relieved and more relaxed than I have done for a long time. Also a sense of gratitude. My psychiatrist is very positive about the prognosis and it gives me hope.

 

[ms spock]

What is TRE?

 

[Goingtobemyself]

What is TRE?

It stands for tension and trauma releasing exercises.

From Google:
Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE) – alternative method of PTSD treatment. Physical exercises that aim to cause neurogenic vibrations of body, allowing to reduce stress, unload tension and decrease intensity of PTSD symptoms. The method proved to be efficient in cases of so-called shock trauma, generated by different accidents.

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My psychiatrist dosn't use the prior exercises but the reaction is the same to me

 

[kilted]

I've found TRE useful...... my previous therapist was Reichian, and though she didn't call it TRE..... it is exactly what she was doing.

I didn't have the explicit visual response you did because I'm more C-PTSD. The effect of the exercises was cumulative over time until I had a significant emotionally releasing experience during a residential workshop. The TRE type exercises my therapist had done over several years laid the foundations for the process...... so when "it" began in earnest I didn't freak out and was able to stay with it through to the point where I blacked out for a short while. When I came to I was free of pain and anxiety free for the first time in my life. This lasted about 20-30 minutes and then dissipated.

What I found the most difficult was the "coming down" afterwards. I think this is because most therapists/workshop leaders haven't experienced the process in the way that someone with PTSD would. This means that the intensity of the process and the need for mediating the coming down catches them by surprise until they've gained experience.

I remember the stunned expression on other workshop participants faces and the concern shown by the workshop assistants when I came round.... it was clear they hadn't expected as intense a reaction.

I get the sense that TRE is useful, however many therapists/workshop leaders don't understand the potential depth of the process. I feel that the time (years) my therapist took gently encouraging the shaking as part of an integrated process that kept me feeling safe really helped. When things really got going in that workshop I knew..... aha THIS is what my therapist was guiding me towards..... go with it and see what happens..... so there was a sense of OKness despite the intensity and the sense of entering an unknowing.

 

[ms spock]

So is there evidence based science that backs it up?

When I worked animals I did see them "shaking it off" so I would be interested in this as I have a lot of blocks with my body and so much stiffness and soreness when I am stressed. I did bodywork in my teens but that was with a psychologist that was exploiting me, so it is tainted for me.

How did you find out about it? Is your therapist in supervision with a more senior member of the TRE community? If you wouldn't mind explaining what would these community based workshops be like?

 

[Freedomfighter]

Was not familiar with TRE, could be beneficial for some patients, sounds too dramatic for me, I tend to deal with things methodically, intrinsically, and delve into issues with high concentration while sorting out thousands of details. That is just how my mind works...

 

[kilted]

I haven't come across any scientific evidence ..... if you know of any that's peer reviewed I'd be interested in the reference. Peter Levine describes his methodical approach and gives 2 case studies in his book "Trauma and Memory". The "working through" process involves assessing the body's "language" around the trauma and how to use this language to create a somatic environment that can complete the subconscious processing of the interrupted traumatic experience(s) .

I've been doing a bit of digging around on TRE...... and the more I read the more concerned I become (maybe that's my nature!)
I'm sceptical of the (TM) (R) nature of "TRE" as it's advertised over here, and the way it's portrayed as being "simple". My experience is that somatic traumatic release isn't something that can be done by numbers. I think it takes a lot of training and experience to be able to "read" a body and sense how to move the client in a way that releases the trauma. I don't think it's a one size fits all thing.

The "certification" in TRE over here in the UK seems to be based on only 6/8 days of face to face training. One organisation here specifically advertises its suitability for PTSD and military personnel. To me that's verging on the unethical.

While the underlying ideas have been around for a long time I feel a bit dubious about the TRE (TM) thing.

 

[Nedyah]

Have only been using TRE for a short while, 6 sessions so far. So far it has been an extremely good experience for me.

My understanding is that the reason that TRE is supposed to be safe to use with relatively little training is that it's not supposed to induce flashbacks or intense emotional states. Its supposed to work more directly on the muscular tension patterns associated with ptsd, not with memories, emotions, etc.

When I do TRE I do not trigger. I spend fifteen minutes shaking, and occasionally laughing, while I listen to music or an audio book. Afterwards I feel much less tense. Back pain I usually have is reduced or gone (like after a massage). I'm more engaged, less dissociated, and more friendly. My body gestures are more expressive and less rigid. My arms swing more when I walk. i feel a mellow joyful feeling, and have fewer anxious thoughts.

For me I think it may be a game changer. There are a bunch of books, and seminars and things. I bought two of the books, but I don't actually think they're that important.

The TRE process is 7 yoga like poses. They aren't very exact, and you can skip ones you don't like or find uncomfortable. In that sense, it is very simple.

In the books, the actual process is only about ten pages, the rest of the books are more theory than practice, so that makes them a bit of a waste of money. Really all you need is a copy of the last chapter.

But I'm excited. I have not felt this good in quite awhile.

 

[mumstheword]

I did TRE for close to 2 years. My TRE therapist finished the session with relaxation.
I found it extremely effective. It came at a time that I'd done a lot of talk therapy and it wasn't getting me where I wanted to be. TRE is actually just our bodies natural process to discharge after major stress and trauma, or even cumulative stress and a series of minor traumas.

Because we are so enculturated that we are not animals, mostly, we no longer shake and tremour as other mammals do, after the danger has passed. TRE just allows our bodies to discharge, it is not a mental process, it is purely a physical process to tire the muscles enough so that they cannot "hold on" up to the pent up trauma and tension and the natural discharge happens.

Yes it can bring fear as your body can do all sorts of strange and involuntary movements but it can be stopped at any time. Personally I found it extremely relaxing and healing. Sometimes tears or laughter would arise.

I was coached to allow anything to arise but not to dwell on any of it.

I too, suffer from cptsd. EMDR is not available in my country, at least not in the regional area that I live and I have heard it can be dangerous for c-ptsd sufferers, I don't want to stir things up in a way that might damage me further, TRE doesn't have that danger. The worst that will happen is you won't be ready and it won't feel right, if that's the case, try something else.

You, pretty much, have to feel safe to do it, it doesn't work if you aren't in a safe situation, this is where a good TRE therapist comes in handy.

There are plenty of YouTube vids to provide more info.