Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises

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Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE) methods were developed by David Berceli (born December 19, 1953 ) in the hope of being able to cure traumatic experiences, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and severe stress . Berceli is an American bioenergetic practitioner , psychotherapist, massage therapist, theologian, and social worker.

Development of the method

During his work as a trauma therapist in various crisis areas, Berceli made the experience that there is a natural reaction of the human organism to shock and traumatic experiences, which is shown by tremors in the entire body. By studying the research of Peter A. Levine (Somatic Experiencing), Berceli came to the conclusion that the tremor after a shock, trauma or other very stressful event is a basic equipment of mammals. It serves the self-healing of the organism in order to regain its inner balance.

David Berceli then developed a series of seven exercises on the basis of bioenergetic analysis , yoga , tai chi and other Eastern methods, which induce a mild clonic spasm ( neurogenic tremor ). This tremor is said to "release" the trauma with its deeply relaxing effect on the body.

The function of tremors in resolving traumatic experiences

On the left is the repetition loop that persists and constantly activates the sympathetic nervous system . It persists until the brain receives a signal from the central nervous system that the danger is over. The right side shows the neurogenic tremor that induces relaxation and trauma resolution.

According to Berceli, the psoas muscles play a central role in the physical process of trauma . They lie in the middle of the human body (in front of the lower lumbar spine and the sacral vertebrae ) and connect the back with the pelvis and legs. With every traumatic experience, these muscles contract. They pull the body together and protect the heart, stomach and all other internal organs. Through the tremors observed by Berceli, Levine and others, these deep-seated muscle groups - according to Berceli - let go of their protective tension and return to a relaxed state. The central nervous system then sends signals to the brain that the danger is over. According to Berceli, this will also bring about a trauma solution on a psychological level.

In the TRE perspective, without this discharge, the body remains trapped in a state of severe stress after a traumatic experience. Post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) is formed by a constant chemical state of excitement that causes the organism to autonomously repeat individual components of the traumatic event in order to get rid of it at some point. Feelings and memories about the stressful event repeat themselves in dreams , involuntarily arising thoughts, stressful feelings and flashbacks . Physically, great tension is more or less permanent.

application

The TRE exercises were originally designed for practical work in large groups of traumatized people. According to Berceli, 40,000 people in 17 countries had come into contact with TRE exercises in this way by 2010.

In 2011 Berceli worked with trauma victims of the attacks in Norway , and in February 2013 he was commissioned to work with the traumatized people in Newtown, Connecticut - people who were directly or indirectly affected by the school massacre there.

In 2011, a quasi-experiment - pilot study was presented as part of a dissertation , which attested TRE a significant reduction in anxiety and the promotion of a better general well-being in healthy adults TRE course participants. In the same year, a comparative study by the US Department of Defense on various methods of stress reduction confirmed that the TRE method was relaxing and easy to learn. In September 2014, the journal Global Advances in Health and Medicine published the results of a pilot study that was carried out in a South African SOS Children's Village in Cape Town with the staff there. They certify that TRE has a certain effectiveness in reducing stress.

In Germany, the North German Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis started a research project (online survey) on the effects of TRE in February 2014, the results of which were published in spring 2015. Clinical studies on the effectiveness in traumatized people and people with PTSD are not known.

TRE exercises are used by proponents of the method for people who are exposed to heavy professional or private stress and unhealthy stress in their everyday life . Especially for professional work in social work areas, Berceli (in collaboration with Maria Napoli) developed a few other short introductory exercises that supplement TRE with elements from mindfulness training .

literature

  • Peter Levine: Trauma Healing: The Tiger's Awakening. Our ability to transform traumatic experience. 2nd Edition. Synthesis, Essen 1999, ISBN 3-922026-91-5 .
  • David Berceli: Physical Exercises for Trauma Healing. North German Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis, Elsfleth 2007, DNB 989843203 , p. 28f.
  • Bernd Patczowsky: Body- focused stress and trauma solution through "Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises" (TRE). In: body, dance, movement. Journal of body psychotherapy and creative therapy. Issue 3/2014, pp. 102-108.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ David Berceli: Physical Exercises for Trauma Healing. North German Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis, Elsfleth 2007, p. 28 f.
  2. ↑ Valerie Prassl, Elisabeth Riedl: By trembling for deep relaxation. In: cause and effect. Issue 79, Vienna 2012.
  3. ↑ Peter Levine: Trauma Healing: The Tiger's Awakening. Our ability to transform traumatic experience. 2nd Edition. Synthesis, 1999.
  4. ^ Vita Heinrich-Clauer, Arist v. Schlippe: "... to allow the body to continuously heal itself." In: Psychotherapy in dialogue. Issue 2-2006, Thieme-Verlag
  5. ↑ David Berceli: Physical Exercises for Trauma Healing. North German Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis, Elsfleth 2007, p. 28 f.
  6. ^ Evolutionary Life Architecture: Unwinding The Knots In Our Muscles and Fascia. December 12, 2013, accessed December 28, 2014.
  7. ^ Vita Heinrich-Clauer, Arist v. Schlippe: "... to allow the body to continuously heal itself." In: Psychotherapy in dialogue. Issue 2-2006, Thieme-Verlag
  8. ^ Vita Heinrich-Clauer, Arist v. Schlippe: "... to allow the body to continuously heal itself." In: Psychotherapy in dialogue. Issue 2-2006, Thieme-Verlag
  9. ↑ David Berceli: Neurogenic tremors. A body-centered treatment method for trauma in large populations. In: Trauma and Violence. Issue 2-2010, Klett-Cotta
  10. ↑ Valerie Prassl, Elisabeth Riedl: By trembling for deep relaxation. In: cause and effect. Issue 79, Vienna 2012.
  11. ↑ traumaprevention.com ( Memento of the original from October 2, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / traumaprevention.com
  12. ^ T. McCann: An evaluation of the effects of a training program in trauma release exercises on quality of life. Dissertation . University of Cape Town, 2011.
  13. ↑ United States Department of Defense : Mind-Body Skills for Regulating the Autonomic Nervous System. ( Memento of the original from April 20, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. June 2011, as seen on January 28, 2015. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.dcoe.mil
  14. ↑ D. Berceli, M. Salmon, R. Bonifas, N. Ndefo: Effects of self-induced unclassified tremors on quality of life among non-professional caregivers: A pilot study. In: Glob Adv Health Med. 3 (5), 2014, pp. 45-48.
  15. ↑ David Berceli, Melanie Salmon, Robin Bonifas, Nkem Ndefo: Effects of Self-induced Unclassified Therapeutic Tremors on Quality of Life among Non-professional Caregivers: A Pilot Study. In: Global Advances in Health and Medicine. 3, 2014, p. 45, doi : 10.7453 / gahmj.2014.032 .
  16. ↑ B. Patczowsky: Body- focused stress and trauma solution through "Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises" (TRE). In: body, dance, movement. Journal of body psychotherapy and creative therapy. Issue 3/2014, pp. 102-108.
  17. ↑ H. Nibel: Shake it up baby! Trauma and Tension Releasing Exercises (TRE @) as a new promising offering in promoting occupational health Proceedings of the Society of Occupational Science Spring Convention; 2015 Feb 25-27 Karlsruhe.
  18. ↑ B. Patczowsky: Body- focused stress and trauma solution through "Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises" (TRE). In: body, dance, movement. Journal of body psychotherapy and creative therapy. Issue 3/2014, pp. 102-108.
  19. ↑ David Berceli, Maria Napoli: A Proposal for a Mindfulness-Based Trauma Prevention Program for Social Work Professionals ( Memento from September 28, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF document with DinA4 exercise table on page 7).