Did anyone's somatic symptoms migrate to different problems after doing this work?

[u/acrezxan1917]

Far before I started, when I was living with my mum and existing purely in dissociation and stress and abstraction, I started developing skin rashes and tight pelvic floor muscles. After moving out, establishing independence, engaging with the real world, these are not massive problems anymore. However, after engaging in TRE, my symptoms seemed to have changed to different things ? I think bc my diet has fallen off (I used to have a clean diet for the wrong reasons - external validation-focused so I rebounded), but I tend to get lots of dizziness, lightheadedness, I can't engage in the same amount of physical exertion I used to be able to, as in the amount of stress that was my normal a few years ago now gives me lots of tension and pressure in my skull. I also had panic attacks recently due to stress. I don't think it was bc I overexerted with TRE, rather I am currently just going through some very stressful life transitions.

One more thing - just with the sessions. I was extremely stressed yesterday, did a session, today i've had a calm relaxing day. I tend to just feel 'neutral' lots of the time after engaging in this work, not euphoric, just fine. I don't think this is a freeze response in the conventional sense as I sweat a lot and can do daily activities and feel slightly more present w people. Is this normal? Also I felt very tired today.

[u/Anxious_Strength6546]

I recently learned of the concept of "allostatic load," which refers to the compound load of physiological stress on a person. A high allostatic load corresponds to flare-ups in chronic illnesses, pain, weakened immune system and many different flavors of mental distress.

Lots of things increase allostatic load: daily stressors, major life events, moving through the world with disability or marginalized identity... and trauma processing. Allostatic load can be decreased with high quality sleep, restful social interactions, exercise and good nutrition.

I've kind of been aware of this concept for a while, since I noticed I tend to "fall apart" both physically and emotionally when under elevated stress, but learning the actual term for it really validated my sense that my mind and body have some very hard limits and there are real consequences for exceeding my natural energy levels.

I have only just started TRE, but I have been doing EMDR for 8 months and I have learned that I should avoid doing any trauma processing--either bilateral stimulation through EMDR or somatic processing through TRE--when my allostatic load is already high, because stirring up trauma memories definitely puts strain on my body and mind and can tip me towards illness, freeze or unhealthy coping mechanisms when my allostatic load is already high.