The Revolutionary Trauma Release Process: Transcend Your Toughest Times

by David Berceli, Robert C. Scaer (Foreword)

Life is stressful, anxiety provoking, and frequently traumatic. The result is that many of us are hurting, and often we are unaware of how deep our pain runs. These experiences aren't simply over and done with once they have passed. They each leave their mark, etched deep into both the psyche and the body. This affects how well we function from this point onwards. The Revolutionary Trauma Release Process shows what stress, anxiety, and trauma do to our mental wellbeing and physical health. Despite the uffering we experience in life, Dr. Berceli argues that even the most damaging events can become a pathay to a more fulfilling and meaningful life. The magic of The Revolutionary Trauma Release Process is that it can be utilized by anyone, any place on the planet. The process can reestablish a person's equilibrium, stabilize their life, and turn them to an emotionally healthy place.

Genres: Psychology, Health, Mental Health, Nonfiction, Self Help, Audiobook, Personal Growth

207 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book "may" help you more than you could ever imagine. I have done the exercises in the book and the result shocked me. I felt so relaxed after.

[Gemini Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr Bercelli's book offers some detailed explanations on how PTSD and unresolved trauma impact our psychological and physical make-up impairing our health, well-being and mental sanity if left untreated.

Diving into the history of how humans have reacted to trauma and how the primitive natural response that we have learned to suppress in our civilized societies still exists, lying dormant, just waiting to be activated to give us the healing release we need.

Bercelli takes us on a trauma tour evaluating how suicide, sexual abuse, war, death, racism, natural disasters and other tragedies cause us to become stuck if these trauma's are not consciously released from our psyche and body. Yet, if resolved, the trauma can be one of the greatest drivers for our own personal positive transformation and ultimately that of the planet.

The evidence to support Dr Bercelli's case for the effectiveness of the Trauma Release Process comes from examples of client and personal experiences and references to research — which are, sadly, vague at best — leave one wondering how from his 15 years plus of working in the field of trauma he hasn't accumulated more in-depth and powerful case studies to share or accumulated specific journals, articles and books from which to reference the research that supports his ideas.

Overall it's a great introductory text to trauma and how it impacts our lives, however if you are looking for a more academic text and something that's a little more comprehensive in its editorial presentation I recommend looking elsewhere.

However, if you are new to trauma and PTSD work and are looking to try out the Trauma Release Process then you will find this is a good place to start.

NB - This was required reading for a training I'm doing in Trauma Release.

[kit · Rating 3 out of 5]

cut the ideology, and this book would be half the length--and better for it. the theory is solid & verified by other somatic approaches i've investigated. the exercises seem legit (started tonight & got some results). points off for not addressing disabilities. are there other modifications/analogues for folks who can't do these due to injuries or other issues? i'm also curious if there's any research re: folks with epilepsy using this approach, as my neuro-knowledge isn't thorough enough to parse whether these sorts of tremor-inducing exercises might trigger a seizure. still, the tech seems sound.

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berceli's exercises are terrific and very clearly detailed and make this book a must-have for body-centered practitioners of all types, as well as for anyone dealing with back pain issues and exploring their own Bodymind connections, especially, of course, with histories of trauma. The rest of his text his pretty generic in its discussion of trauma, though probably a decent introduction for lay people.

[Isaiah Minick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been my first real book on Trauma and trying to learn the process of healing.

Overall this book is amazing. It taught me so much about trauma and how it is stored in our bodies and how that can affect our day to day life. I have hope for myself and humanity through this book. I know from personal experience that healing trauma is really hard and scary but I truly believe the work is worth it.

As a future TRE provider I will focus on these main points below, but I want to emphasize both the individual aspect of trauma and the global aspect of it. The global aspect is that we all have experienced trauma and lots of who we are and what we do to others are due to coping mechanisms of our previous trauma. The individual aspect is that every person's healing journey is going to be different and to not compare your healing to others and to be able to tap in and listen to your body.

In my own life I am realizing that this TRE process is bringing up Trauma I didn’t even realize I was storing. I have started seeing a therapist to help process this all. It’s difficult. It's scary. It’s uncomfortable at times, but I truly believe it's the way forward.

I have learned so much from this book. I will attempt to summarize the main areas of learning.
1.Everyone experiences trauma, it is human to have trauma
2.Our bodies protect us by responding to trauma in different ways
3.Tremoring is a natural response from our reptile brain that release trauma
4.When we tremor we both release the trauma stored in bodies, and our coping mechanisms
5.Healing Trauma unlocks different level of consciousness and allows communities to heal
6.The whole concept is tied with listening to your body, to try to tune out the thinking mind and let the body process the way it knows how to.

1.Everyone Experiences Trauma
-We all experience trauma - this is due to unpleasant sensations that often don’t match with the way we want the world to be.
-Anxiety is something should be happening that isn’t
-Stress is when something shouldn’t be happening that is
-Both deal with ‘what is vs what we think should be’


2.Our bodies protect us by responding to trauma in different ways
-We all will respond to trauma differently- one event can cause huge reactions to one person and not much to others, so be kind, listen and trust your body. If you are reacting a certain way but everyone else seems calm/unbothered that is OK. Do whats good for you and your body.
-Oftentimes we react to trauma with fight/flight or freeze. But of these are bodily reactions that sends chemicals / oxygen / etc to different parts of the body.
-Fight/flight activates the Sympathetic Nervous system, getting us ready for action!
-Freezing activates states of coping, we have given up and want the body to shut down as much as possible in order to survive what is happen.
-This can show up in out of body experiences, just giving up during struggle, and a dissociation with self
-During unpleasant sensations stress is stored scattered through the brain and body. Often similar sensory experiences can cause us to relive the strong associations with the stored trauma.
-This does not get released because its a bodily function that humanity has tuned out - it cannot be done through using the thinking brain.

3.Tremoring is a natural response from our reptile brain that release trauma
-Animals will often be seen shaking after stressful situations. (legs twitching violently etc)
-This is a natural response that allows our reptile brain to take over and allow the body to regulate itself back to a healthy state.
-The fetal position is a similar natural response that all humans still use to calm and protect themselves.
-Once you start tremoring you will understand that it truly is a natural response from the body - and doesn’t need your conscious control or it.

4.When we tremor we both release the trauma stored in bodies, and our coping mechanisms
-Often post tremors will help us feel calm, relaxed, in the present moment.
-Trauma induced behaviors are put in place by our bodies to protect us. These become deeply ingrained in who we are. Some releasing the trauma and thus unpacking our deep seated coping mechanisms can feel like we are losing a bit of sense of self.
-It can be uncomfortable and even bring up original emotions associated with the trauma. Stay with it. If it gets too heavy, then slow down and heal on your own time.
-Releasing trauma can make us rethink many of our core beliefs about self/religion/faith.
-Remember to be kind to ourselves when these coping mechanisms due to trauma come up - they were helpful for us during the time, forgive ourselves for using them and slowly be able to let them go.
-“Violence cannot be ended by violence.”

5.Healing Trauma unlocks different level of consciousness and allows communities to heal
-We learn about love and compassion for ourselves
-When we do this in groups we realize everyone on earth is experiencing these things. This gives us grace and understanding.
-Other peoples coping mechanisms could be very violent or what we consider bad. But often they are acting out of protecting themselves from their deep traumas as well.
-The more people that can heal from their trauma the more humanity can heal.
-Through this healing process we can start to feel connected to our bodies, and our selves once again.

6.The whole concept is tied with listening to your body, to try to tune out the thinking mind and let the body process the way it knows how to.
-Over and over again we are reminded to go to the body, not the mind.
-If the tremoring is bringing up too much, too fast, then slow it down.
-If your body is ready to tremor, then let it.
-Stay grounded and be checking in with yourself and how your nervous system is responding.
-Healing cannot be rushed
-Do not wish that your body was tremoring in a certain way - let it be the leader.
-NEVER JUDGE - just observe. Try to take the story away and quiet the thinking mind through these processes
-It may be helpful to have a therapist to help you talk through things you are discovering about yourself as TRE brings up deeper and deeper traumas and comping mechanisms.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read! I've only gone through the exercises once, and I definitely felt some shaking. I'd like to complete the exercises for a year and report back on how it makes me feel.

[missy jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've told so many people about this book, which contains exercises to induce trembling and off-load trauma and stress held in the body. I wish the book was heavier on evidence, but my personal experience is that these exercises are accessible and very useful.

[Alex Linschoten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Less science, more mission statement. Interesting idea, particularly in the civil conflict settings Berceli seems to have traversed during his life, though.

[Per André · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating approach to PTSD treatment in particular. Minus for over selling.

[Heiki Eesmaa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the exercises, but this is a piece of marketing that you should not pay for.

[Camilla Leurs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually finished the book a while ago but wanted to wait to review until I had done the exercises. The book is very interesting and stories were engaging and enlightening. The concept makes sense to me and the exercises are easy to do. I did experience mild quivering of my legs after doing the exercises. I imagine I'll need to do it on an ongoing basis to be effective. They are short and easy enough to tack on the end of my usual workout so I will try to do that. It may also be useful to reread the book now that I've done the exercises as it may make more sense or be more relatable/translatable now. To me this is on of those things that may or may not work, but doesn't do any harm trying as it may work for you.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A loving look at healing trauma. The TRE exercises that caused me to pick up this book are good but make up a small portion of the book and are better explained via video

[Reading Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay.

So, I read this as part of a recommended text from a Yoga Therapy program. I am not a Yoga Therapist and I don't intend to become one, but, I wanted to check it out anyway.

This book is overlong, even for how thin it is.

Here's the basic premise. Author realizes that most people are traumatized (50 pages of people being traumatized by everything from the act of childbirth to someone sitting at their lunch table at school). Author realizes we are conditioned, in a sense, to not show any physical reaction when we are afraid, to try to mask fear, especially as adult. Author notices that very small children, however, who are *not* conditioned yet, when stressful things happen, tremble. Author notices that in the wild, after an animal has successfully eluded a stressful situation (escaping a lion hunt, etc), the animal also trembles for several minutes and then...moves on its way, seemingly not traumatized by the experience.

So, he concludes, if we could all engage a non-conscious tremor, we could basically get all the backed up fear we've been shoving in our bodies and not expressing out of our system.

I'm...not sure I'm sold on that, because, well, no one's actually asked any gazelles after they've had their scare and shakes after escaping a lion, if, indeed they are mentally, emotionally and physically over it. If there is no lingering 'trauma'.

HOWEVER, I mean, I have the book, the exercises take 15 minutes, so...why not give it a shot, right?

The exercises are a series of lower body movements designed to bring muscle fatigue to most of the muscles of the leg. Then, when you get to the final exercise, you've sort of overridden the body's ability to hold onto all that stuff it's been tightened down to hold onto.

Well, it's weird. I'll tell you that. You certainly do get tremors. They come and go and they're weirdly intense. There were several moments where I was on that verge between laughing and crying. It didn't hurt, at all, it was just your legs shaking while you're lying on your back.

Does it work? We'll have to find out. I can see why they recommended it (for the exercises) and I will likely try them again. But really, this book could be 50 pages max.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid treatise on the effects of trauma on individuals, in the workplace, and in societies, as well as info on how trauma can negatively affect global communications/negotiations.

Explores the unexpected gifts/benefits of trauma to our personal and spiritual development.

Most importantly, provides an illustrated method by which all may easily shed residual effects of trauma, as well as ongoing daily stress.

I use Berceli's method and have found it to be invaluable in aiding to heal deep-rooted trauma on subconscious and somatic levels. His method was the missing piece of the puzzle for me in my healing process, and an important adjunct to psychotherapy. I have recommended the book to my therapist, after being guided to it by another, and I continue to use the method with her approval.

Everyone could benefit in some way from the exercise guide in this book - as a preventative measure, if not necessary to one as a cure. It's simple and quick. It works.

Gave it four stars only because of some editing errors.

[Susanne Levi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Marred by Hollywoodian cliches

Repetitive and jumpy. Marred by ceaseless preaching utopian grand scale world clichees alongside interesting information. Unscholarly and naive with regards to history and world politics. E.g a claim that human kind has never experienced as much trauma as today a blatently false statement. Hollywood horror movies watched with a beer on a leather couch are not what farmers, sailors, and birthing women endured. Another incoherent idea that the experience of inner peace will save humankind from conflict and wars. A unique discovery, that humankind must have overlooked for millenia. The mix between valuable, introductory insights into a unique therapy method and the ceaseless attempt to educate humankind is exhausting.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

An astonishing & hopeful book. Plan to practice these techniques asap!

[Kati Karloff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok so the theory here is that animals release the stress of acute trauma (think an antelope escaping a cheetah or whatever) by shaking all over. Small children usually do this as well, but adults don't because we either don't want to scare who we're supposed to be protecting, or there's shame attached to being afraid, yadda yadda. The author theorizes that because humans' unwillingness to literally "shake it out," leads to chronic lower back pain and a slew of other ailments, because we instinctually go into the fetal position in stressful situations.

It's not the craziest theory, and I'm willing to try the exercises (it's kinda like yoga that's geared toward helping your muscles shake) if it helps me get peace.

[Kavish · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a short book. I learned a little bit about trauma. The last chapter of the book is about exercises (to release trauma)because the author is of the view that trauma is also stored in the body. I skipped the last chapter because I'm not into yoga or strange exercises. I often take long relaxing walks and I think that is enough to release any stress in my body . I believe I do not need any more workouts or exercise.
I was looking for something more mental than physical which I did not find in this book.


If you are severely traumatized and into yoga, this book might help.
I found ''Shattered Assumptions'' and ''Trauma and recovery'' VERY helpful.

[Zarathustra Goertzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, interesting book on trauma. There's the perspective that trauma is a part of regular life: one's body will tense up in the face of stress and threats. So it's important to process and release this tension, to integrate it and grow. Berceli tells us his personal story and investigation into ways to respond to trauma that people can do on their own or in groups (without relying on psycho(somatic)therapy). To this end, there is the trauma release process involving some stretching exercises and shaking in particular positions to get at specific muscle groups. Reminds one of fluid belly laughs and giggling :- D.

[Sam Thammahong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Berceli wrote this book for a large audience and kept me engaged throuout. Different observations over different cultures, religions, upbringings were intriguing and powerful. One woman brought to Dr. Berceli’s attention that in her culture, suicide is meant to kill the soul by hari kari, taking a sword to the pelvis. In western civilization, suicide by gunshot to the head is more common, because Westerners are so cerebral and have a huge disconnect between brain and body. What a cool observation.

All for now.

[Marinescu · Rating 4 out of 5]

„refuzul de a ierta trecutul ne face să devenim prizonierii rezistenței opuse instinctelor noastre naturale, evoluționiste și deci are puterea de ne refuza o înaintare sănătoasă spre viitor.
Când iertăm în loc să învinovățim, facem un act de renunțare. Acest lucru permite eliberarea energiei blocate, și ca efect ne redă propria viață. Când refuzăm să renunțăm la traumă, o mare cantitate de energie se încapsulează, o energie de care avem nevoie dacă vrem să trecem peste ce s-a întâmplat. Refuzând să iertăm, ne restricționăm singuri accesul la oportunitatea de a ne mișca spre un nou viitor."

[Maryse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers a scientific approach to trauma exposing how trauma is a part of nature. We discover the natural way the body copes with trauma and releases it, how the body and minf are closely interrelated and how we can benefit from such negative experiences in the restorative process.
I found this book very insightful.

[Jay Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took serious effort not to highlight the whole book! It is powerful and concise. Not an ounce of excess on a single page if you ask me. It does a wonderful job of giving a general overview of trauma, its implications on individual and societal well-being, and how to recover using the provided exercises. I highly recommend this book.

[Abe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read, the writing establishes the credibility of the premise, and then presents the solution. The test will be to see the results long term of using the TRE process, but others attest it works!

[Madi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional book of trauma and the importance of integrating it in our lives. David Berceli comes with a revolutionary yet natural method of discharching our nervous system of trauma and stress and this book as well as his method should become mainstream for a better world.

[Terell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was super informative and gave a step by step on how to do TRE. There are so many modalities to explore for trauma healing. This one, for me, has been the most effective.

Recommend if you or a loved one have unresolved trauma to work through.

[Ribena Beetroot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really valued the way this book was written in clear, straightforward language, describing trauma as on a normal continuum of the stress that we all experience on a physical, psychological and spiritual level. The concepts were described in a way that was concise and impactful. I found it very helpful that Berceli described his experiences in war and conflict situations and directly drew on these, as well as his multidisciplinary experience, in order to inform his development of TRE.

I found the emphasis on the physical and neurobiological aspects of trauma very helpful, and agree that cognitive/psychological techniques alone are not always sufficient to help people process their trauma and bring themselves back to an experience of inner safety. Introducing TRE as an easily learned approach that can be applied without high ongoing costs for a facilitator is especially therapeutic and empowering for those who have experienced trauma but feel unable to afford extensive therapeutic support.

The exercises are described and shown at the back of the book, which is a helpful reference for those learning the techniques, as well as a helpful guide for practitioners in terms of how to guide the exercises verbally and provide alternatives.

Even though I have read a lot about trauma, I learned a lot from this book and really enjoyed it. I’d feel confident recommending it to professionals and non-professionals alike.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't tried the exercises (yet), but this book has value for me just for the incredible insight it gave me on some of my own experiences of trauma and the post-traumatic stress that has resulted.

[Teresa Arauco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am all about the mind-body connection, so everything in this book rang true for me.

[Ana Rangel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read!