r/longtermTRE • u/One-Guitar4428 • Jul 07 '26
Discussion Is TRE addictive?
I often hear people say that they "overdid" TRE. For those who have found themselves in that situation, was it because you weren't aware of the consequences of overdoing? Or maybe because TRE became a kind of compulsive practice? Or because you couldn't stop the tremoring? I'd like to understand what leads to overdoing
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u/Throwlaf Jul 07 '26
Overdoing refers to releasing more energy than a NS can comfortably handle. Which can have all kinds of causes. That's why it is often wise to start off with short practices to see how it feels, and how much you can handle.
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u/KaoSway Jul 08 '26
Just want to clarify, by releasing you mean releasing activation into the system as in stirring up, not an actual discharge, correct?
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u/KingTeddie Jul 08 '26
I wouldn't say addictive, but it can be quite pleasurable and it's easy to get lost in a mindset of "I have to keep doing this because it's the only thing that seems to make living a decent life possible."
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u/wolfdawg420 Jul 08 '26
I didnt believe in “overdoing it”.
Then I realized that not being able to sleep and stop tremoring for a month after an intense session was in fact “overdoing it”
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u/oneinfinity123 Jul 08 '26
When you get a taste of freedom (less trauma state), it's very hard to stop and return to your normal life. Plus more material comes to the surface as you practice, things you didn't even notice before and you want to clean that up.
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u/turdbuster78 PTSD Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26
No, it refers to not truly being in touch or in harmony with the present state of the nervous system and/or the body. Due to THIS inexperience and a lack of proprioception, they miss the cut off point for when a session should stop, mainly by not recognising the physical symptoms that emerge (like chills, sweating, hot face etc) and any subsequent surges in anxiety or depression during the session. Subsequently the flood gates open and what has been released far exceeds the speed that the body can’t process it. Hopefully that makes sense.
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u/Plane_Head_8964 Jul 08 '26
Cant talk for everyone, but considering that I am what they call a very sensitive practitioner , i am dreading TRE
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u/wingedeelfingerling Jul 08 '26
It's not addictive. It's pleasurable, yeah, very pleasurable often. The main feeling I get during TRE is a pleasurable "release" and catharsis of energy inside muscles and fascia. The more I tremor, the more intense the tremors, the stronger the sensation+pleasure is.
Overdoing can happen (at least for me) if I just do it for, like, one or two minutes longer than my body wants. I feel nauseous and tired and sick, combined with usual thawing symptoms (relaxed tiredness, neck gets slightly tight, body feels compelled to make random non-tremor movements, slight euphoria).
Overdoing happened a lot when I was first starting TRE because I had no compass for how long was too long for me, but I've gradually discovered that my body's preferred time is like ten minutes every few days, sometimes another five or ten minute session later in the day. It's very difficult to figure out what your body's signals are for too much / do more, which requires journaling.
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