TRE, or Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises, is a series of gentle exercises which tap into the natural tremoring, or shaking reflex mechanism that all mammals are born with.  This shaking or vibration helps the body’s muscles to loosen holding patterns and release tension.  It also promotes a downregulation of the nervous system out of stress responses like fight, flight, or freeze and brings it into a calm state. It helps to discharge excess adrenaline and cortisol in the system that occurs due to daily stress and traumatic events, and brings the body back into balance.  With TRE, the client experiences this in a relaxed, calm environment. 

Over time, this downregulation of the nervous system and rebalancing can help alleviate many symptoms that are caused by chronic or traumatic stress, or nervous system disorders such as:

• muscle pain

• tension headaches

• tinnitus

• dizziness

• anxiety

• dissociation

• numbness

• lack of social engagement

• resting tremors

• poor digestion

• poor sleep

• poor blood pressure

• poor insulin level control

• poor immune function.  

TRE is helpful for a wide range of circumstances which put a strain on the body and nervous system such as:

• stressful work and school situations

• accidents

• sports injuries

• high intensity training

• Long Covid symptoms

• general everyday stress

• PTSD symptoms in soldiers of war, first responders, medical professionals with vicarious trauma from the patients they work with, people with childhood neglect and trauma, and victims of violence.

TRE can help a person learn to self-regulate and bring feelings of safety in their own body.  This method is helpful for people who have troubles with talk therapy and the overwhelm that can occur by talking about an event. TRE helps to release emotions held in the body without reliving painful events. In fact, people tend to have a very pleasant feeling of relaxation, peace, and well-being after doing TRE.  As such, this can be a “bottom up” approach to mental health, to help the body regulate itself first, and then the mind can follow.

I have had good success in patients with significant emotional dysregulation or dissociation, such as in those with Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures. People with autoimmune disorders and Parkinson’s disease may see a decrease in symptoms as their stress levels drop and the nervous system comes into balance. (Learn more about how I work with PNES, dissociation, and other symptoms here.)

TRE is great for children and adults.  Online and in-person sessions are available. It is recommended to have at least 3 sessions with a TRE provider to get acquainted with the process.

TRE® for All website

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